Curler Jill Officer, second on Jennifer Jones’ Olympic gold medal rink, writes a twice monthly blog for Global Winnipeg.
I am a naturally loud person who can project her voice across an arena with very little effort, so it is no surprise that after seven Continental Cups of Curling (curling’s version of golf’s Ryder Cup), I have unofficially been named head cheerleader for the team that consists of six Canadian curling teams.
Therefore, this past weekend not only consisted of on-ice competition for myself and my team, but the rest of the time was spent on the player’s bench eagerly and enthusiastically cheering on the rest of Team Canada.
WATCH: Jill Officer cheers on Team Canada from the bench
READ MORE: Canadian curlers clinch Continental Cup, taking 5 of 6 matches Sunday
Having this time on the bench and being part of the off-ice support team got me thinking about the impact support can have in good times and in bad. And I am not just talking about rah-rah, cheerleading kind of support. I am talking about support between spouses, support of your kids, parents and friends and the decisions they make or rough patches that happen in their lives.
Looking back on all the good stuff in my life and also the few rough patches, one of the first things I remember helped me navigate the bumpy and the smooth roads is the reinforcements in my life during those times.
Sometimes it was family, sometimes it was friends and a few times it was people whom I wouldn’t have expected to be the comfort for me, which is also a reminder that you can back and be backed by acquaintances, not just close relationships.
It may be a moment of support, a period of time or an entire life, but no matter the person, situation or duration, I have experienced the impact of that feeling of having someone on your side when you need it. But I have also experienced the satisfaction of being the supporter.
It is not just about saying, “I support you” — it’s about reserving judgment. It is about recognizing that it is not your decision to make nor is it your journey, but theirs and what is best for them.
So while we simply cheered so loudly we lost our voices on the weekend, we were the best support we could be off the ice and I’m sure it made an impact. I am also sure that having the right support in my life has changed my path and my journey at times, for the better, so I hope you keep that in mind next time you need a little backing.
READ MORE: Jill’s House blog page
Jill Officer will be a guest on Global Winnipeg’s Morning News on Wednesday morning.
Comments