Above the Field 🌤️ Week 12
This was such an incredible message last year from Sonic, that we wanted to repost it.
Enjoy!
Week 12 :: Gratitude
“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger to a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow”
- Melody Beattie
Read that again. I’ll wait. Or better yet, I’ll read it with you. I need to.
OK. Feels better already.
I had to research this quote for its origin. I had assumed it was an ancient philosopher, you know, one of those Confucius, Aristotle or Gandhi types. It turns out Ms. Beattie penned this in 1986. Go figure. The subject of gratitude and its invisible powers have been covered by many a sage over the years, however, and I can’t think of a better time to delve into these wisdoms.
Yes, it’s Thanksgiving week, a time where expressing gratitude is tradition. It also happens to be a week where I, and possibly some of you, could use a shift in perspective. I’ve been on an epic cold streak, one that I couldn’t even imagine when the season began. I learned so much in the offseason. I mean, I wrote a freaking course on MME Tournament play for NFL DFS. I couldn’t just half-ass it so I really researched and got my shit together in order to provide something of value to our OWS fam. Add the fact that I got to know all of the super-sharp contributors here and spent tons of time chatting about strategy from multiple angles, and you’d think the results would follow, right? Well, no, that’s really not how life works. That’s not how DFS works…and it’s especially not how tournaments work. I’ve analyzed my play pretty thoroughly and I’ve identified some leaks, some moves that were less than optimal. I beat myself up about those but all-in-all I’ve played much better than I did last year. Yeah, last year – when I profited at least 5x on all 3 sites and won all the money on Draft Kings Week 11. The reality is, I probably wasn’t as good of a player as my winnings demonstrated in 2019 and I’m certainly not as bad a player as my current march through the frozen tundra of tournament variance would indicate.
It’s easy to type these words and understand them, but shaking off the tilting feeling of finishing in the red for consecutive weeks is another. I’ve been contending with that, Covid-related frustrations, as well as another issue that most all of us will experience in our lifetimes – the declining health of a loved one. I’m super close with my Dad and he’s sadly, nearing the “shedding of the mortal coil” stage.
I’ve been trying everything to get my head right. Lots of meditation, long walks with my dog, extended hugs with my people. Today I was feeling especially sorry for myself so I escaped to the golf course in search of peace. It was on the approach to the 7th hole that something dawned on me…I was walking on a golf course, on a beautiful day, lamenting the loss of a measly 3% of last year’s winnings. Imagine! I’ve also been desperately resisting the inevitable loss of an awesome Dad, a Dad with whom I’ve had a close relationship for decades. Not everyone gets to have that in their lives. I have so much to be thankful for. So much to appreciate. It only takes a subtle shift in perspective to see it, feel it and allow it to turn everything around.
“He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things he has not, but rejoices for those he has”
- Epictetus
Enlightened words from a man who had to overcome a lot, starting with living an entire life with his name constantly misspelled and mispronounced. The first day of school every year had to be brutal. I hope he didn’t have man-boobs. Imagine the teasing.
I have a job that allows enough time to play golf. I’m married to someone who “gets” me. The fact is I’m surrounded by good fortune and blessings that far outweigh the challenges.
Just look at this fucking dog!
This week will present many of us with challenges. Some of us will be separated from our families by circumstances we can’t control. Some of us will be with our families despite every effort to avoid them! Being forced into conversations about politics and “that gambling stuff” can be frustrating and awkward. Whatever your situation and surroundings, take a minute every hour to think of something you’re grateful for. Set a recurring reminder in your phone if you have to. Take a deep breath and look around. Find something extraordinary to appreciate. Could be a family member, a sunset, the wafting aroma of your upcoming meal, or a sick strip-sack that leaves a quarterback’s helmet sideways with a clump of dirt attached. Whatever turns you on. It’s there. You’ll find it. You just have to remind yourself to look…and how to look.
“Appreciation is a wonderful thing. It makes what is excellent in others belong to us as well”.
- Voltaire
My 2020 tournament results haven’t been where my ultra-competitive self wants them to be so far – but there’s a new slate every week, teeming with hope and opportunity.
My Dad and best friend is at the 18th hole, headed to the clubhouse – but he’s played a helluva round and deserves an ice-cold “Teddy Bruschi” when he gets there.
I know he’ll have one waiting for me when I arrive – but there will be plenty more living, loving and binking before then.
Gratitude.
Get Inside Of Sonic’s DFS Mind
An excellent, highly-recommended read!
Sonic’s DFS Q&A. This is awesome stuff if you’re looking to keep improving your DFS game!
