JUGHEADS
Youth Juggling Company, LLC
5905 Concord Avenue
Edina, MN 55424
jugheads@comcast.net
or 952.926.0896

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September 2002

“The Relativity of Victory”

I love underdog stories. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, Rudy, and Rocky all appear on my personal Top Ten list of favorite movies (respectively, 1st, 2nd and 7th, for those keeping score at home). Each main character in those three films attempt feats which for some may appear easy, but for them, the task is monumental. In Rocky (Best Picture, 1976), the title character sums up his definition of “relative” victory in the line, “All I want to do is go the distance.” Not win; just endure. Rudy just wants to make the team. Not star as quarterback; just be called a team member. Frodo wants to bear the ring for the sake of preserving the world of his fellow hobbits in the Shire. Not become king; merely give of himself for the sake of others.

Among the more than 100 active youth in JUGHEADS, one kid learning four balls could be as personally significant as another kid learning seven. A successful Jughead can be defined as a youth who looks at each technical, artistic and/or performance achievement relative to their own talents and goals. Aim high for goals, but keep in mind that victories are relative. I know of some kids for whom merely appearing in “Reach” in Juggle Jam IV or bussing out to Reading in July was major victory for them. My advice to the body of Jugheads this year is this: Lofty goals are encouraged, but keep both feet on the ground, and enjoy the victories (whether relatively small or huge) that you achieve.