Brian Johnson watches his son Emerson before a chess tournament and reflects on their ritual of burpees, intention-setting, and an "I love you" sign. He calls love a hero's secret weapon: strength for two. The challenge is to notice your loved ones deliberately and let that love fuel your actions.
Hi, this is Brian. Welcome back to another Heroic Plus One. I was typing this one a few minutes after dropping Emerson off for round 6 of the National Middle School Chess Championships. Now, one of the weird things about chess versus baseball or basketball or other sports or activities is that you usually don't get to watch your kids play. Now, Emerson has played in 357 tournament games over the last 3 years since he started playing. Yes, that's a precise number. Just checked. Now, before every single one of those matches, we've done a version of the same thing. We're nearly always the very first ones in the playing hall so we can set up his board and his clock. Then we go for a quick walk, do some burpees, and set his intention for that round. Today's intention: trust and crush. Then we cruise back into the playing hall a few minutes before the match begins. Note, if there's another chess player, kid or GM, with a more consistent pre-match protocol, I'd like to meet them. But that's not quite the point of today's Plus One. This is: a couple minutes before the round starts, they kick the parents out. So, after giving the big guy a squeeze on the shoulder and flashing him an I love you sign, I headed to exit the playing hall. Only— I stopped. About 20 feet away. And turned back to look at my beautiful little boy who isn't so little anymore. He was laughing with the kid next to him, and I was struck by just how much I adore him. I was also struck by how committed I am to being my best, to help him bring forth the best within him. Then I reminded myself that the hero's secret weapon is love. The hero has strength for 2. Today's plus one. For whom will you Have strength for 2. Your mission today, should you choose to accept it: slow down at some point today. Step outside the constant busyness of life and all the pressures that come with our day-to-day existence. Look at your loved ones for an extra moment. Take a moment to admire them. Then recommit to being the change you want to see in the world and use your love for them as fuel for you to embody more wisdom, discipline, love, and courage all day, every day, especially today.
