After putting on the final, finishing touches Tuesday morning and crossing my fingers that the rainstorm would hold out until after 4:30pm, I drove the truck to Squaw Peak for a photo shoot (note: the threat of rain was actually a boon, because I found parking spaces together and few people were around).
I was waiting for the photographer to arrive when a car pulled in behind me and a man got out. He introduced himself, said the truck caught his attention and asked could he please take a picture. "Sure!" I replied, delighted by his enthusiasm, "Come in and check it out."
Turns out this random encounter was with Rey Fuentes, Mental Skills Coordinator for the Chicago Cubs. He shared how the Cubs fit mindfulness training into most days to enhance well-being and performance for players and staff. "Look at my shirt and socks," he said proudly, and then I noticed the meditating Chicago Bear. Since professional sports teams were among the earliest adopters of organization-wide mindfulness training, I wasn't surprised by the Cubs' commitment. But I sure as hell was surprised that my path crossed with Rey's. I mean, what are the chances?!?!
So today, M2 Lead Teacher Breon Michel (who grew up a die-hard Cubs fan in Iowa and played college softball) and I were invited to the Chicago Cubs Player Performance Center to meet Rey and Josh Lifrak, Director of the Mental Skills Program. We met inside the truck and then they were kind enough to give us a tour of their state-of-the-art facility.
I don't think I could have planned a better way to get this show on the road.