Next year will be 50 years since I left my senior school back home in Darlington. I am organising a school reunion to celebrate this. We last had one 10yrs ago. It’s always funny meeting up with old school friends and reminiscing of the good old days!!
One conversation last time with a guy I have known since I was 5yrs old had me and him in tears of laughter. It went something like this:
“Can I be honest with you Baz?”
“Yeh sure Paul.”
“I hated your guts at school.”
“Why” I asked?
“I was so angry with you because you were really good at sports, captain of the Football & Rugby Teams, Fastest runner in the school & town. I was so jealous of you.”
I then said “Paul, can I be honest with you?”
“Yeh sure.”
“I was angry and jealous of you as you and the 2 top forms in our year always got to go on a day, weekend or week school trip whilst I and others in the lower forms went to the Christmas panto.”
We then turned to each other laughing, raised our glasses and said “cheers” taking a swig from our pint glasses!
I still posses my school report from senior school which makes for an interesting read. It is still backed by hideous 70’s wallpaper! Reading through it, especially the comments from my PE Teacher, is quite telling. Each year I would get a B+ each February and July. In Y9 it read: “A fine all-round athlete who, if he can curb his tendency to lose his temper, should do very well indeed.” Sadly, I was a very angry young man which ruined a lot of friendships, easily losing my temper.
“Anger is a momentary madness, so control your passion or it will control you.”
– G.M Trevelyan
When we’re angry it’s always wise to take a breath or step away from the situation, so that when we do respond it is with a bit of wisdom and a cool head.
“If you are patient in one moment of anger, you will escape a hundred days of sorrow.”
– Rainer Maria Rilke
This reiterates the wisdom of choosing to be patient rather than reacting and giving in to anger.
“The greatest remedy for anger is delay.”
– Lucius Annaeus Seneca
Enjoy the game.
Written by Baz (Co-CEO). Originally appeared in various Programmes for Rotherham United games.
