Another Architect in my office grew up playing soccer in England. He learned a lot of life lessons while playing soccer and teaches those lessons to children at the NYC Athletic Club.
He told me how he always had great foot action reflexes in daily living due to the skills he learned in soccer.
For example, he would pull his arms in close to his chest while rolling instead of bracing his fall with an out stretched hand risking a wrist fracture. Often times, he found himself back on his two feet, barely missing a stride after doing a couple of somersaults.
In soccer, he gets annoyed at players who will dive into the box (to get a free kick) or who dive in mid air to block a shot. He says that makes them ineffective to react afterwards.
He says that it is important to "Get off the ground" when you are tackled on the field.
This is something that I needed to hear while things are coming at me from all angles.
Don't stop, the goal may be just beyond your reach...but its there for you if you persevere. The winning boxer doesn't stay down on the mat. It maybe painful, but that is often an indication that the goal is almost at hand.
Get off the ground.
