Except for Nunga. Now there’s a sport that totally engages me. You’ve probably never heard of it much less played it and even less seen it being played. Don’t feel bad, it’s not available on the sports channel. Hopefully never will be. Nunga is a game we made up a few years back. At a family reunion. We were bored to the point of paralysis and there was nothing to see or do, and nowhere to run to. Nunga to the rescue.

Nunga is a solo sport you play with other people. You need a team of two or more people. Probably five is optimal, more than that they should split off into a separate team so you’ve got somewhere to defect to. Defecting to other teams is an important, if not essential, component. You’ll need a branch/pole/broken broomstick/peg, and at least one ring of some kind. Initially we used an axle off a pushchair and a couple of the broken/rusted out wheels – just the decaying rubber and rusty rims left. Sink the branch/axle in the ground deep enough so about 30 cm/ 1 foot remains above ground.

The object of the game is to throw the ring over the branch. Just like throwing quoits. Horseshoes. Here is where the sport differs. It’s over to the thrower to decide where they’ll stand to throw. Most people start right up close, and then move further back as their confidence and competence grows. They make it just difficult enough. Nunga is a sport that most anyone of any age can compete in with an equal opportunity to win at – physicality is not a requirement – in fact being a stunning athlete in the traditional form is a disadvantage.

Merely getting the ring over the peg doesn’t really win the points. There are no points. The other people on the team are there to boost you onwards to ever bolder moves. How you score is by ever moving out of your comfort zone and still hooping the ring over the peg. The best players are those who can call like a rooster, scurry up clucking like a chicken, run past the peg, and throw the ring without looking, have in bounce off a car, knock (but not spill) Aunty Joy’s gin and tonic, spin on its axis and then descend gracefully around the peg; to the wild screams and applause of the other participants – each of whom are determined to outdo the theatrical splendor, grace, and riskiness standard so recently set. The frailer or younger participants have the advantage that any flamboyance exhibited will be more valued than mere physical expertise. Singing, dancing, chanting, flames, hop, skip, and jump. Spin, twist, and yahoo to your heart’s content. Giggle like a loony-thing. The most important thing is to engage and enjoy as raucously as possible.

Don’t watch the game. BE the game.

PS – When the winning match was scored, my colleagues politely applauded and quietly returned to their desks. Not a lot of Nunga there.

Sometimes I can be my own worst enemy, especially when I allow my inner critic to have a voice. During these times I have felt trapped by my body and my thoughts. It just happens. It creeps up on me. I’m aware of what is happening and I want to stop it so I can escape from the feelings that momentarily drag me down.

The worst thing about these situations is how they can alter my perspective. Instead of looking at what’s right about a situation it becomes easier to focus on what’s wrong even though I know this isn’t productive in the long run. Experience has taught me that the way we frame our thoughts has such a huge impact on what happens next.

This is what I started to think about when I noticed the hand coming out of the boot of the car in front of us today. It was an unusual sight so it drew my attention. I assume the owner of the car put this rubber hand in this particular position to make people laugh. I could see the humour only another message took hold. This message had to do with having options and the choices we make on a daily basis. I imagined being the person trapped inside this car boot who was desperately wanting to get out. What would I do? How would I handle this situation? In many ways this situation is familiar to us all even if the context is different.

Feeling trapped can be productive or unproductive depending on the decisions we make.

We can choose to feel overwhelmed by our life, our circumstances, our relationships, our jobs, our financial situation, global and local events, by whatever drama presents itself to us at any one point in time. We can become paralysed by all this and choose to do nothing in response. On the surface it can feel easier because it is at least familiar.

Or we can look at every situation as an opportunity to grow, learn and make the changes that will lead us to where we want to be. Looking through new eyes and discovering new perspective helps us to reframe our thinking and leads us to take the action required. If we can imagine where we are headed and what it will look like we feel greater confidence in taking the jump that will get us there. Its not the easier option but it is definitely more satisfying and rewarding.

I know which perspective I’d rather take, and in reality have taken over the years – except when those momentary lapses occur. I wouldn’t be where I am today if I hadn’t chosen to focus on moving ahead and being prepared to change whatever needed to change.

Manifesto
37. Every day fight for what’s worth fighting for. Pick your battles.
38. Every day be brave and give things a go. Use fear to trigger you into action.
46. Every day you can change your thoughts.