When my TV show, 'Sports Jobs with Junior Seau,' assigned me to

In the grand dance of life, there are moments when we find ourselves pulled in unexpected directions, when the plans we make collide with the forces beyond our control. Junior Seau, a man whose life was shaped by the strength and tenacity of the football field, reflects on such a collision with humor and wisdom when he says, "When my TV show, 'Sports Jobs with Junior Seau,' assigned me to be a 'Sports Illustrated' reporter for a weekend, I didn't realize I'd have to squeeze it in around another sports job. I had planned to retire from the NFL to enjoy the cushy lifestyle of a full-time reality TV star, but I wound up getting run over by a bull." This story is a perfect example of life’s unpredictability—how even the best-laid plans can be thwarted by unexpected challenges, often leading to humbling experiences that teach us lessons about adaptability, resilience, and the essence of true greatness.

In the ancient world, the greatest heroes and leaders often found their carefully made plans upended by forces they could not control. The great warrior Odysseus, after years of fighting in the Trojan War, sought to return home to Ithaca, to his wife and son, only to be thrown into a series of misadventures—storms, monsters, and divine interventions—far beyond what he could have imagined. He had planned for peace and rest, yet what he encountered was struggle and hardship. Seau’s collision with the bull mirrors Odysseus’ journey, where even the most seasoned warriors and leaders must navigate the unpredictable currents of fate and find their way through unexpected challenges.

The idea of “retirement,” too, is one that has been present in human culture for millennia, though it has often been tied to a different kind of battle. In ancient Rome, for example, Cicero, a philosopher and statesman, spoke of the need for rest after years of service in the Senate. Yet, for Cicero, even his rest was filled with intellectual pursuits, a different kind of “job.” His retirement was not an escape from purpose, but a change in form, and the expectation that life’s work would always demand something more. Seau’s plan to retire into the cushy life of a reality TV star was not just a desire for rest, but a natural shift from one form of work to another, even though he, like Cicero, would learn that life rarely allows for true rest, and that new challenges will inevitably rise to meet us.

Seau’s encounter with the bull also speaks to the ancient understanding of fate, and how we, as individuals, must respond to forces beyond our control. In the story of Hercules, the great hero who performed twelve labors as penance for his actions, he faced creatures, gods, and tasks that tested his strength, wit, and resilience. One of these labors required him to capture the Ceryneian Hind, a creature that eluded him at every turn. Though the task seemed impossible, Hercules never gave up—his persistence and adaptability became the defining qualities of his heroism. Seau’s run-in with the bull was his own unexpected labor, a reminder that even in moments of discomfort or surprise, we must respond with courage and strength.

The wisdom of the ancients also teaches that the best-laid plans are always subject to forces beyond our control. The Buddha, in his teachings on the impermanence of life, spoke of the unpredictability of the world, that all things are subject to change. Life, he said, is a river that we must navigate, not always flowing in the direction we desire, but requiring us to adapt with grace. Similarly, in the I Ching, the ancient Chinese book of wisdom, the concept of change is central to understanding the flow of life. Seau’s story of getting "run over by a bull" is a modern reflection of this ancient truth—no matter how much we plan or prepare, life will bring us unexpected moments that demand adaptability and resilience.

**From Seau’s experience, we learn an important lesson in humility and the ability to adapt. The bull, a symbol of force and unpredictability, knocked Seau off course, but it also taught him something invaluable. He could have retreated in frustration, but instead, he rolled with the punch, recognizing that life would not always go according to plan. This is a lesson that we must take to heart—no matter our strength, no matter our preparation, there will always be moments when we are knocked off our intended path. It is in these moments that our true character is revealed—not in how we avoid the challenges, but in how we rise after they have knocked us down.

The lesson here, then, is not just about the unpredictability of life, but about how we must embrace the challenges that come our way. Like Seau, like Odysseus, and like Hercules, we are all called to face the unexpected with resilience and perseverance. We must learn to navigate the storms, the bulls, and the unforeseen obstacles that cross our paths with the same strength and determination we use to pursue our goals. Only then can we find fulfillment, not in avoiding hardship, but in mastering it and learning from it.

So, let us remember this wisdom as we go forward in our own journeys. Life will rarely unfold exactly as we expect, and it will often throw us off course. But it is not the plan we must cling to, but the spirit with which we face the unknown. Like Seau, may we approach each unexpected challenge with the courage to adapt, the strength to continue, and the humility to understand that every experience—whether pleasant or difficult—has something to teach us. In this way, we will find our way forward, no matter what life throws our way.