Call me Mud!
Just wanted to write down some stuff before it all escapes me, before fatigue and aching muscles get the better of them and I’d rather not write at all.
Yesterday (THURS) had a team building seminar or sorts. The whole Globe Handyphone Team played Gotcha!, that paintball-war game, against the Coke-Jollibee Team of McCann.
Definitely lots of fun!
I spent most of the time lying down on the mud. Slipping, sliding, crawling on the mud, trying to gain a foothold on anything. Felt really helpless. My protective goggles kept fogging up and for safety purposes, I couldn’t remove my goggles and mask while I was on the battle zone.
We played three games.
During the first game, we were the defenders of Hamburger Hill. The Coke Team had to capture our flag. Five minutes into the game and I was already breathing heavy, felt like I could move my legs, and just couldn’t stand up due to the slippery mud. By this time, my green pants and black jacket had turned brown.
During the second game, we had to attack Hamburger Hill. When the team split up, I went with Dadi and Joy. After Dadi got captured, and saw my team mates get killed one-by-one, I thought that I had better do something. From the looks of things, we were on the “safe side” of the battle. We could hear gunshots from above us and below us. While Joy took cover and kept an eye out for the enemy, I slowly began to crawl to the flag. Suddenly the referee said that there was only one minute left in the game. The team that took the higher ground started to open fire. So, I did the same and just shot at the general direction of the flag. July made a dash for the flag but wasn’t about to grab it in time.
After the second game, I just lied down on the ground, didn’t care about the cold mud, and looked up at the sky through my fogged-up goggles, trying to catch my breath. Next thing I knew, everyone had gone to regroup outside. It took me sometime to get back up because of that damned mud.
Camp Abubakar was the third game and we played the role of defender again. I think that was the team’s shining moment. Everyone did their job of covering for each other and protecting the flag. When Mike and Nanni, our defenders of the flag, were shot out of the game, Joel ran out to the flag to defend it. Arjun also ran out of the protection of the bunker when he saw the opposing team coming in too close.
Third, from the Coke Team, got close enough and ran for the flag, but he got splattered with paintballs from everyone in the team (everyone who still had bullets, that is). Even though Third was able to touch the flag, he still got shot before he reached it, and the referee declared us the winners.
After the game, we got to shower, changed into clean clothes, and had the chance to lie down on comfy beds.
We had a quick lunch and the group was asked to get together to discuss and assess what happened.
The common insights were that we should never be afraid to take risks, that it’s only when we take risks that we are able to do anything. Like I said, I felt helpless because I could move with much dexterity and agility, but I guess that shouldn’t have stopped me from doing what I was supposed to do. Once again, I let my fears take over and I ended up not doing much. In a situation where there’s very little time, it’s best to just act and do something… do anything! Rather than not do anything and stay safe.
It was great to see the team “in action”, seeing how everyone covered everyone’s back, which is something that we often do in the office, made more evident on the field of combat.
Nans pointed out that she was motivated to move with encouragement from her team mates. And I guess that’s what we all need, especially with our work, to encourage each other, without have to patronize. To give genuine praise will definitely help other go that extra mile… or that extra foot of muddy terrain.
NOTE TO SELF:
Don’t be afraid to take risks.
Do something new.
Exercise more.
Live life.
It was definitely a great day.
Now I had to go... body in pain... hurts to even just type... ow... ow... ow...