Feeding others to feed oneself
A food lesson for a football team
The nature retreat was perfectly timed for the football club.
The season had been a disaster so far as new joiners struggled to link up with the existing players.
The coach Mikel had tried multiple formations, rotating players, but to no avail.
The defense continued to leak goals, while upfront the attackers failed to trouble the opposition.
This retreat was an attempt by Mikel to change the scene and hoped the players built a connection with each other.
One of the evenings, after a long day of mountain hikes, the team huddled to interact with a monk.
The monk and his disciples stayed nearby the retreat and had been invited by Mikel to talk to the players.
The conversations started and over time veered to some of the questions the team was battling with.
"How can we achieve success in life?"
The monk smiled and replied, “It is easy. I will answer you. Shall we have dinner first?”
The monk and Mikel exchanged glances and nodded gently.
Within minutes the food was served, but there was something strange.
A long table was setup for dinner and food was served but the spoon was a meter long.
The monk instructed - “You must eat the food only using the spoon.”
Each person tried, but it was obviously impossible. No one could eat and everyone remained hungry.
Sensing the team’s helplessness, the monk stepped forward.
He picked up the spoon, took some food and fed it to the person sitting in front of him. The person reciprocated and fed the monk.
“Aah, that’s the way to do it!” - sighed the players.
Slowly, everyone followed suit, using their spoons to feed the others.
Soon, everyone was happily enjoying the food together.
Afterwards, the monk stood up and said:
“This is the secret to success. The one who decides to only fill their own stomach at life's table will remain hungry. But the one who cares about feeding others will never go hungry.
By feeding others, you are ensuring that you are fed as well.
Until your friends and companions succeed, your door to success remains shut. Our path to success passes through the success of others.”
Mikel then stepped in and linked the lesson to the struggles the team was facing.
The team had to become one unit - in defense and in attack. Without it, the talent, formation and tactics were futile.
That season the team improved but barely made it above the relegation zone.
The following season, however, the team played on a different level.
Opposition teams could not zone in on what formation or strategy Mikel’s team was playing.
Goals were coming from almost all players - some in open play, some from set pieces.
There was selflessness while scoring goals and togetherness in defending.
Ultimately, that season Mikel and his team were champions of the league!
True!