“The thing that’s sticking out to me is this idea that you need a strong why, a strong reason for doing what you do, and if you have that, it’ll be clear what your purpose is. I don’t know what my why is yet, much less what I want todo. I’m still figuring it out. It also says that if you don’t know your why, you can focus on who you want to help and who you want to impact.”
“Do you know who?”
I shook my head. “No. Everyone?”
“Maybe think about what you like doing? What’s the thing that makes you forget what time it is? Apart from playing football, obviously.”
“Being with you.”
Rona rolled her eyes. Were we too soon into our relationship for eye rolling? I wasn’t sure but I loved it when she did it in any case.
“Well, other than you, at the moment it’s reading self-help books and listening to motivational podcasts. I’m gobbling them all down like I’ve been intellectually starved my whole life. Maybe I should do a degree in something.”
“Start there. Explore it. Go deeper into it.”
“You’re right. I think I will. Maybe I could write a book or something?”
“Maybe you could,” Rona agreed. “How are you feeling about today?” Rona squeezed my hand.
I’d been invited on a podcast about high performance by one of the most popular podcasters out there. It was going to be a high-profile interview, that was for sure. “I’m excited. I hope I’ll make sense. I mean, what do I know about anything?”
“Uh, you led the country to multiple trophies. You captained your team. Are you fishing for compliments here woman? Because you know I’ll sit here and dish them out all day.”
I shook my head. “Sorry. I’m not. What I mean is that everything I’ve done has been instinctual, and part of a team. I haven’t studied anything. I’m no expert.”
She stroked my arm. “You know more than you think. You have experience, and that carries weight. Anyone can write a book and pontificate from the sidelines but where are their trophies? I’m not saying your self-development books are crap, I’m just saying you should have more confidence in yourself.”
“You’re good to me.”
“I’m just saying what I see. What’s one area you feel most confident in?”
I thought about it. “Motivation. How to stay motivated, how to focus on winning, and how to motivate others especially when the chips are down. I guess belief too. Because I don’t think we would have achieved half as much as we did with England and in the clubs I played for, if we didn’t believe in ourselves. And I know that we worked on that and how. It was part of our training.”
“How many people do you think have those skills?”
“Lots, probably. Especially professional athletes.”
“I don’t know about lots. Maybe the athletes. But I’m sure you could help people by talking about it. And you speak so well. That’s another great talent you have. Girl, you’re going to be fine.” Rona lay back down on the bed.
“I’m a woman, thank you very much,” I replied, teasingly.
“All woman, I know,” Rona said, with sparkling eyes.
I moved towards her and propped myself up with my elbow. I hovered above her, hoping we might kiss after this, marvelling at how easily we moved around each other. Our bodies were in sync. We fitted together. “Seriously, thank you for helping me with all this. I feel much better.”
Rona reached up and stroked the back of my neck. I got goosebumps.
Gently, she pulled me towards her and we kissed softly. Intimately.
Rona did not open her mouth though. I ached to feel her tongue.
She pulled back. “Not so fast. I need to brush my teeth. You need to get ready, too. We can’t be frolicking before your big moment in the spotlight.”
“I would prefer to frolic.”
“I’ll make breakfast.” Rona got up. She was wearing one of my oversized t-shirts and the bottom of her ass showed underneath it.
“Hey,” she said. “Head in the game, remember?”
