Child of the Day: Lusia Leonard
Age 15
Nancy Bushek with Lusia
Ride to Date Scorecard:
Day: T-7 (launch date is May 23)
Location: Capitola, California
Today’s Mileage: 0
Total Mileage: 0
Today’s Ascent: 0 feet
Today’s Time on the Bike: 0 hours
Total Time on the Bike: 0 hours
My friends are finally catching up to me and retiring! HOOORay!!! I’m so happy for them, and yet I’ve had many years to think about retirement. I’ve discovered that when you become an adult (regardless of age, it's about the responsibility), a person successful in life transitions from short-term thinking to longer-term thinking. The responsibilities of adulthood and the necessary regimentation of living in the community almost demand longer-term thinking and actions consistent with long-term objectives. Child rearing, mortgage-paying, and career building all serve as examples of performing for longer-term results. Much different from being a child or young adult.
Some of us make that transition more smoothly than others. Ironically, upon “retirement” (again, age isn’t the issue, but rather approaching “the end” seems poignant), we, by the grace given us, might be able to transition once again back to our “short game.” I've watched many of my friends hold onto “the gal that brought them to the dance,” but as was pointed out to me years ago, that which provides success one year will not be the necessary skills or effort later in your career or life to continue success — new skills and vision are needed.
Transitioning to the short game can be summarized quickly for me: I now seek pleasure, shun conflict, and look inward for satisfaction, not outward. And yes, this can be painful, as we CAN let go of what used to work! Playing the short game is all about self-satisfaction. Had I thought of this in my 30s, I would have felt guilty and lazy!!!
Taking advantage of the opportunity to realize a lifelong goal and realizing that I “ was never born to be a sprinter”——-in anything, I will try to ride 4000 miles this summer. Yes, I’m crazy, or maybe just unique. For this very mediocre athlete (I use that term “athlete” loosely), it means, as my friend Craig Davis has once said, I enjoy anything that is ARDUOUS. (yes, he went to Yale) For a guy my size and ability, I've known that my best advantage is either to try something no one would attempt or at least attempt something painful. That’s just me.
Another friend conjectured that my “life’s work” or joy is Educating Tanzania Foundation. He was only partially correct, because as it relates to ETF and our kids, friends, and family in Arusha, Tanzania is not an end in itself— ETF for me IS ALL about pleasure!!! (even though educating a child is a 12 -15 year project).
And so I’m going long for the kids in ETF, which will give me pleasure. And that’s how I play the short game — by going long.
Today’s child of the day is Lusia Leonard, whom our Executive director, Nancy Bushek, my daughter, met shortly after the death of her brother when she bravely went to Tanzania to volunteer in Tupendane Orphanage, from where many of our children have come and where there are 40-70 children (when the sponsored kids come “home” between semester).
Lusia was 4 years old. We have met her family. She has a smile that could light up a city. Smart, disciplined, and yes beautiful now as a young woman, Lusia is an excellent student and makes us all so very proud. Nancy fell in love upon meeting her and they have been “Dadas” (sisters) for the last 11 years. Lusia attends Scolastica Secondary School. She’s a bright light in our life.