ROOTS
My son has a new favourite song. It's called ‘Roots’ by the Reklaws and was the World Juniors theme song this year. So naturally we’ve all listened to it about a thousand times. I don’t know if you’ve heard this song before, but if not, I’m going to recommend you grab a kleenex box before you do.
Like, I’ve heard this song A LOT over the last few weeks and I can’t even talk about it without crying. Last night, after my son declared this as the best song of all times, I asked him if he understood what the song was about. He said, no. So as we listened and I tried to explain it, I was so overcome with emotion that I really started to worry my husband. Hahahaha
Before you think I'm a crazy person… just read the chorus to the song:
When the stars line on up and you finally strike gold
When the pressures way too much
But the diamond starts to show
When your prayers get answered gods plan unfolds
Now don't you forget to
Make mistakes
Lose your way
Get some dirt on your boots
Call your mom
Write your friends
Ones that were there for you
Remember all the little people when your dreams come true
Now don't you forget your roots
Like, this song is everything that every human on the planet needs to hear! I know the song is about hockey, but is it?!
Somethings can touch us so deeply in the heart that we can barely understand it. But this one, this one, I understand and it hits me DEEP in the heart strings.
For me, this song gets me for many reasons (and no, its not because we lost to team USA in the gold medal game, insert crying emoji here). These are the most critical ones:
#1. The game of Hockey is a MAJOR part of my life. My kids play the game, my husband coaches the game, we all watch the games, we are so ingrained in this life, that when it was all cancelled we literally were at a loss of how much time we actually had on our hands. I see my son and his big dreams to play for the world juniors one day and I see the families of those boys and I think, fuck - could I do that?! Could I let my kid move across the country at 14 to pursue his dreams? And then I cry. Not just because that would be so hard, but because there are kids out there who (even at nine years old) have the BIGGEST dreams and it's our job as parents to believe in them so much that we just might lose them soon after they become teenagers.
#2. I was 16 the first time I moved away from my hometown to pursue a dream. And when I returned, I knew I’d never stay. From there, I’ve worked my whole life to create something different for me and my family. I have taken my life way beyond the one that was lined up for me back home. BUT how often to acknowledge what got me here? Not enough. My parents, my hometown, extended family, my old friends, all of it, made me who I am today and while I'm over here living my best life I can’t help but think that everything that I am is because of them! It was that life I so desperately wanted to leave behind and woah, Its a lot to process, let alone share with a 9 year old, who just like… loves hockey a lot.
The moral of the story is this. I feel like the luckiest person in the world because of those tough roots and I want to challenge you to explore yours. What part of them shaped who you are today? Give gratitude to that. No matter how good, bad or ugly it is, say THANK YOU! It’s powerful stuff. Feel free to share your story with me, I would LOVE to hear it!
Oh and here is a link to the song, just in case you feel like a good cry. Grab your kleenex.
xo Tash
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