Hi Everyone:
I have been thinking about what it means to have a meaningful and
successful life. I have heard many athletes, including myself, say "if
only I had a boyfriend/girlfriend, job, car, children (or fill in the blank), I
would have a meaningful and successful life." It's easy to think
that when looking at your family, friends, and others to see what they have, and
think they have a happy, easy life when their differences may be less obvious
to a casual observer. I have three sisters who are married with children,
and it's easy for me to become envious of what they have. It's hard for me to
realize that they also have to work for what they have and that it's not handed
to them. They also struggle to find their own sense of purpose and success in
their lives.
I have to work harder in some areas than other people have to, and I have
a different way of defining meaning and success for myself. Part of what makes
my life meaningful is being part of Special Olympics both as an athlete and a
volunteer. We athletes have to work harder and find new paths and overcome
different obstacles than other people. The athletes of SO are diverse in terms
of their challenges and abilities, and we must define our own meanings of
success. Special Olympics helps add meaning and success to our lives by
allowing us to go beyond what we thought we were capable of doing. Thank you
Special Olympics for being part of all of our lives.
Sincerely,
Jessie Salness
> Lebanon County Special Olympics Athlete Representative
Thursday, June 26, 2014
Thursday, June 19, 2014
Jessie's Blog: A Great Day for Fishing
On Saturday, June 14th, I had the pleasure of
attending the Lebanon County Special Olympics fishing event sponsored by the
Lebanon R Field & Stream Sports Club. The R Field & Stream
members stocked their pond for this event, and provided the reels and bait for
our use. The members were also on hand to teach and encourage us Athletes
in pursuit of the Great Catch! Quite a few fish were caught, along with a
few trees... Whoops! I don't think there are tree-fish!!! Many
Athletes had lots of success, whereas I, on the hand, was happy to catch one
catfish! The Sports Club members cleaned and cooked the fish, and helped
serve the fish, hamburgers, hot dogs, and French fries to the happy, hungry
Athletes!
Jerry Wolfe, an R Field & Stream member and LC SOPA supporter, mentioned an idea for a fishing event at the last LC SOPA Annual Dinner/Auction in March. Working with Jim Deininger, President of R Field & Stream, and Judi Lentz, an R Field & Stream member and active supporter of LC SOPA, they coordinated all of the details for this event. Not only did R Field & Stream Sports Club sponsor this fishing event, but they also sponsored the LC SOPA's last two Dinner/Auction events!
Thank you Jim, Jerry, and Judi, and R Field & Stream Sports Club for all of your longtime, continued support of Lebanon County Special Olympics. We Athletes truly appreciate all of your support and hard work, and we really enjoyed the "fruits of our efforts" at this fun fishing event!
Sincerely,
Jessie Salness
Lebanon County Special Olympics Athlete Representative
Jerry Wolfe, an R Field & Stream member and LC SOPA supporter, mentioned an idea for a fishing event at the last LC SOPA Annual Dinner/Auction in March. Working with Jim Deininger, President of R Field & Stream, and Judi Lentz, an R Field & Stream member and active supporter of LC SOPA, they coordinated all of the details for this event. Not only did R Field & Stream Sports Club sponsor this fishing event, but they also sponsored the LC SOPA's last two Dinner/Auction events!
Thank you Jim, Jerry, and Judi, and R Field & Stream Sports Club for all of your longtime, continued support of Lebanon County Special Olympics. We Athletes truly appreciate all of your support and hard work, and we really enjoyed the "fruits of our efforts" at this fun fishing event!
Sincerely,
Jessie Salness
Lebanon County Special Olympics Athlete Representative
Saturday, June 14, 2014
Jessie's Blog: The Importance of Attending Practice
Hi Everyone:
I was recently thinking about how important practice is to our success in Lebanon County Special Olympics' competitions. Practice is important for at least three reasons right off the top of my head. There are many reasons to attend practice consistently, as I'm sure you have many of your own, but here are a few of mine I'd like to highlight.
One, practice gives us the time to learn the skills needed in our respective sports. Learning the skills and repetitious practice better prepares us for improving in our various sports. For those athletes that compete, these skills will come more naturally as a result of regular practice.
Secondly, it's good for us to show up for practice because it showcases the commitment we've made to improving ourselves. It proves that we are doing this for ourselves, that WE have made a commitment and we are following through with it! Each individual helps make up the team, and part of being a team is showing up to practice!
Lastly, Special Olympics is based on the principle of equal opportunities. One way of determining whom among us will go to competition is to base it on attendance on practice, especially since everyone would like the opportunity to compete. As much as we'd like everyone to participate in competitions, it is not possible as there are only so many designated athlete allotments.
No one person or team competes to the best of their abilities without putting the time and effort into practice. Let's renew our commitment to attending practice consistently. Attending practice regularly will increase our skill level and confidence, and will help determine which athletes will participate in competitions.
Now let's see if we can all put this into "practice!"
Sincerely,
Jessie Salness
Lebanon County Special Olympics Athlete Representative
I was recently thinking about how important practice is to our success in Lebanon County Special Olympics' competitions. Practice is important for at least three reasons right off the top of my head. There are many reasons to attend practice consistently, as I'm sure you have many of your own, but here are a few of mine I'd like to highlight.
One, practice gives us the time to learn the skills needed in our respective sports. Learning the skills and repetitious practice better prepares us for improving in our various sports. For those athletes that compete, these skills will come more naturally as a result of regular practice.
Secondly, it's good for us to show up for practice because it showcases the commitment we've made to improving ourselves. It proves that we are doing this for ourselves, that WE have made a commitment and we are following through with it! Each individual helps make up the team, and part of being a team is showing up to practice!
Lastly, Special Olympics is based on the principle of equal opportunities. One way of determining whom among us will go to competition is to base it on attendance on practice, especially since everyone would like the opportunity to compete. As much as we'd like everyone to participate in competitions, it is not possible as there are only so many designated athlete allotments.
No one person or team competes to the best of their abilities without putting the time and effort into practice. Let's renew our commitment to attending practice consistently. Attending practice regularly will increase our skill level and confidence, and will help determine which athletes will participate in competitions.
Now let's see if we can all put this into "practice!"
Sincerely,
Jessie Salness
Lebanon County Special Olympics Athlete Representative
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