I have recently been reading Against All Odds. This book recounts the miraculous rescue mission of 12 Thai boys and their soccer coach. In the summer of 2018, the world was transfixed by the perilous plight of a Thai soccer team trapped in a flooded cave for over two weeks. Against all odds, the boys were rescued in what seemed to be an impossible mission. It truly is a remarkable story of courage, determination, and the power of people working together and uniting for a common purpose.
One of the heroes in the story was Ekkapol, the 24 year old soccer coach who was trapped with the boys. Multiple news sources confirmed that cave divers found the boys in good spirits. They weren’t frantic or crying. In fact, they were laughing. This was largely thanks to their coach, who acted as a beacon of courage and optimism throughout the ordeal. The coach did his absolute best to keep the optimism of the boys at a high level, despite the severity of the circumstances. From all reports, Ekkapol was a tower of strength for the boys, teaching them to meditate to stay calm and conserve energy, staying hopeful and communicating optimism through his words and actions. He never gave up, and thanks to his courageous optimism, every one of the 12 boys survived the 9 days until rescuers found them.
Ekkapol is a beautiful example of the power of remaining hopeful in challenging circumstances. Our lives are filled with challenges, and it is very easy to fall into the trap of negativity and hopelessness. Let’s follow Ekkapol’s example. Let’s be the people that lift the spirits of those around us by communicating hope and optimism through our words and actions.
Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs it down, but a good word makes it glad. Proverbs 12:25
Mrs Kelly Morton
Assistant Head of Primary
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