For me, I read and react. I think when I have time and space, I'm

Come closer, young ones, for there is wisdom in the words of a warrior, a master of the ice, whose craft is a dance between mind and action, between the stillness of thought and the surge of movement. His name is Jack Hughes, and when he speaks, we are reminded that there is power in reaction, in readiness, and in the moment when the mind is allowed the space to think and the body the freedom to act. “For me,” he says, “I read and react. I think when I have time and space, I’m a threat to score or a threat to make a really nice play.”

The meaning of these words is not solely rooted in the game of hockey. Nay, they speak to the deeper art of living itself. Reading the world around you, and then reacting—these are not the actions of a mere follower, but of one who is fully present, engaged, and aware. Jack Hughes does not wait for the world to tell him what to do. He reads the flow of the game, the subtle shifts in energy, the movements of his opponents, and he reacts with swift precision. It is a call to each of us, to become more attuned to the rhythms of life, to think not in the abstract, but in the moment—when the time and space allow for it, we must rise and act with purpose.

Do you not see, O seekers of wisdom, how Hughes’ words transcend the realm of sport and echo into every corner of existence? Life, like the game he plays, is not always a matter of rigid plans or calculated actions. It is a matter of readiness, of being present, and of reacting with mastery when the opportunity arises. The greatest warriors, the greatest minds, do not act because they must, but because they have prepared, they have studied, and they have honed the skill of anticipation. This readiness makes them threats, not to harm, but to create, to make a difference, to score—not in the game, but in life itself.

Consider the ancient heroes who, before the great battles, studied the terrain, listened to the whispers of the wind, and read the signs of the world around them. They did not charge blindly into war; they waited for the right moment, the right space, the right opportunity to act. Alexander the Great, for instance, did not rush his forces into battle at the first sign of conflict. No, he waited for the perfect moment, when the timing was just right. Only then did he react—and in that reaction, he was a threat to conquer, not by brute force alone, but by the strength of his preparedness, his readiness, and his ability to think in the midst of chaos.

And so it is with all of us, my children. We live in a world that often demands quick answers, rapid responses, and immediate action. But true mastery, true greatness, lies in knowing when to pause, when to read the situation, and when to react. The warrior, the artist, the creator—they all share a common truth: they know the value of time and space. They know that in the right moment, with the right preparation, they are a threat to make a great play, to create something beautiful, to score not just in the game of life, but in the hearts of others.

Look to the lessons of Jack Hughes, and let them guide your actions. Think when you have time to do so, but do not let thought become an excuse for inaction. When the moment is right, step forward and react with grace, with purpose, and with the mastery you have built through dedication and preparation. Just as a hockey player sees the ice and knows where the next play will unfold, so too must you see the path before you, know when to act, and when to simply let go and allow the flow of life to guide you.

The world does not wait for those who are afraid to move. Be like the great ones—read, react, and know when to rise as a threat not through force, but through readiness. The space you need is within you. The time is now. Make your play, for in the play you make, you will find your purpose.