“IT’S TIME!     ~ MEN FOR OTHERS~

                                     

Welcome! I’m John Robertson.   One of 16  siblings, 10 brothers and 6 sisters… ages 56 to 77!  And when I open my talks I always add a declaration to begin with laughter! That being….that of the 16 siblings, I believe  only three can be considered to be NORMAL…and I am NOT one of them!   LOL!  And being proudly named after my Uncle, award winning sportswriter, media personality, a founding father of our Manitoba Marathon, and also the founder of RIDER PRIDE in the CFL back in 1979…I must share the following FIRST because you would not be reading this if it did not occur!  It was Uncle John that inspired me to do what he believes has been his calling in life and mine too. He gifted me with the best possible advice ever. He said 17 words to this 17 year old ‘Crusader’ from Saint Paul’s High… “Johnny, just find your passion, what you really love to do, then make a living at it!”  And I did …and still doing!

Then 30 years later, after  Uncle John was forced into early retirement following several strokes….we were walking the shoreline one day  at Winnipeg Beach (his retirement home).  I needed  another ‘walk & talk’ ..  a time out. A heavy dose of encouragement. He shared much more, saying he was proud of me. For saying yes to a son at age 18 ..over the football scholarships. And then becoming a single parent Dad at age 20 , raising two diapered  sons.

And Uncle John  also knew  all that I was going through with Colleen’s  trips out of province for her heart and also my search for a permanent home for Canford Sports. Uncle said what I was doing by providing sports & recreation for thousands, especially for youths & families in need was just meant to be! He said that when I turned down all my football scholarships at 18, choosing my son over my dream of pro football…that I was meant to serve and play with the amateurs and their families…NOT with the pros! Never forget that!

Even though the many struggles I had gone through in ‘pursuing & living my passion’, he  said maybe that’s meant to be too! Everything good is made better through adversities and set backs. He also said that I should consider sharing all that was happening and he  encouraged me to take those struggles and my passion into the schools and everywhere I went (playing fields, rinks, gyms…corner lot playgrounds).

In essence , he said I had a story to tell along with much more, and in doing so I would be able to give others ‘hope & encouragement’ and show them that it can be done.  And don’t be afraid of making it personal! It’s okay for men to show their emotions. We are human!  He said to share that  Never give up message! A don’t let others tell you it can’t be done message!   I hung on every word that he was sharing and ate it up! It was fuel that would be with me for a lifetime!  I took  all to heart, and never have forgotten …and have tried to do ever since….what he said I could do…what he believed I could do! Vintage Uncle John…thee encourager!

He also said.. “Johnny, don’t let your head get in the way of your heart!”   Those ‘walks & talks’ on the shorelines, on his deck, his couch….wherever….were everything to me! And I will also remember our last conversation…last visit.. while at his bedside in the Gimli Bethel Care Home. Tears flow easy when love is in the room. This man whom failed grade 11 English twice (that’s a whole other story and I will share it but not now)…went on to be one of the most prolific,  read & sought after media personalities.  And his last words with me were ( and I must leave out only one curse word…lol). He said..  “Your going to reach your goals, Johnny, cuz it’s what your were born to do  and what GOD wants you to do but don’t let those F _ _ _ __G bastards get you down!”   My response:   “I WILL, and I WON’T!”  He left us  in 2014! Love him! Miss him! But he is just a ‘look to the sky’ away!

Sports & sports programming…dare I say the SIMPLICITY of PLAY, has been threaded through out my life! Kinda like brother Frank once said.. “Johnny! Its like you went out to play as a kid  and the game never ended!” I like that! Thanks Frank~ My passion for sports  & PLAY will never lessen! At least I hope not! But a second passion, unintended, is now elbowing in! That is, being pulled into more and more schools to speak. And onto playing fields as well…to give hope & encouragement to the  kids on bended knees with helmuts in hand or on the rinks resting….leaning against the boards. And for the past decade maybe two, many of the kids whom heard my words, would ask how they could reach me or if I had a web site. And when speaking at other functions & events…similar requests are often being made. Hopefully in offering this web site, it will not only enable me to stay in contact with those that wish, but it may also allow me to reach so many more.

Far too many are giving in (leaving this world)…. or giving up…on LIFE…and on LOVE! I  bring a message that LIFE IS WORTH LIVING.. And also through sharing HOPE & ENCOURAGEMENT, the eyes before me may see my passion and their ears will hear words that may inspire them…move them…to appreciate that this CAN be a WONDERFUL WORLD (for them…for their kids and maybe grand kids..if they stay alive!)  if they open their minds and their hearts.  Our younger generation has a smorgasboard of drugs available to them…EVERYWHERE! How many parents gently open their teen child’s bedroom door on a weekend nite to see if their child IS home…and ALIVE (moving/breathing under covers!!)? And yes, the experts predict it’s going to get a lot worse…possibly epidemic proportions. And then there is social media! No need to touch upon the bad herein (or the good). All know!  What I have witnessed over these past few decades, even with us being able to communicate & share so much in so many ways with a single tap online, I do believe that we have an epidemic in our midst and its only getting worse. What is that epidemic?

LONELINESS~ And it’s not only amongst the seniors! It is within every single segment of society….the very young, very old, and all between. EVERYONE is exposed!  And I often ask a Q…out of the blue,  I say “Above all else…what do you want most in life?” Though I get many many answers … one that rises above all others…is “I want to be loved and to be with someone I love. ” And when I canvassed many of my older friends their greatest fear was to die alone! How sad! How true~

Why do I believe in offering hope & encouragement to others? Especially our youths, our young adults, our families? That’s another easy answer! I was one of those kids that received hope & encouragement as an 8 year old and then seemingly every year after! It was never force fed!  And I thrived upon it!  Ate it up!  And when older I can best compare it to the following.

I once asked Winnipeg Blue Bomber legend and best QB ever  to wear the blue & gold (Kenny Ploen), why he played the game the way he did…with the greatest respect for all others and with complete sportsmanship and having such an endearing relationship with BUD GRANT, again…another BEST, as both a player & then coach! Paraphrasing KP… “John: I loved  the game and to be lucky enough to make a good living playing a sport I loved, I respected the game, my team mates, those I played against and especially playing for Bud and I never wanted to let him down!”

Kenny’s comments hit home!   That’s exactly the way I saw my relationships with those key individuals placed within my life.  Again, much more will be shared but not YET!  I often say that it’s not my doing ..with respect to my formation…and the path I have taken!  I credit  all those within my life that gave me a little of themselves! And at times…gave a lot! Far too much that I would never ever be able to pay back….but possibly pay a little at a time…ahead. Yes.. I will share many stories, events, and shine the light on others as time passes, and yes on those that affected this fella’s life immeasurably. I must share! I owe it.

And in keeping with my belief that anything good…dare I say EVERYTHING good…CAN begin with a simple SMILE ..I offer a gentle warning! If you are placed upon my path and not up to being smiled at or hear a friendly ‘Hi!’ or ‘Have a nice day!’….best that you cross the street before you get to me.

~  Though Uncle John is with me/us in so many ways especially so every fathers day when thousands run for a good cause in the Marathon he helped found, I will be sharing many of his columns and stories! YOU WILL BE ENTERTAINED. I Guarantee that!

And with respect to my FAITH & FORMATION…I will be also sharing my appreciation for growing up within the St Ignatius Parish and also the St Pauls Community! And the spot light will also shine on many ‘Men for Others!’.. (and women!) And towards a more caring and loving community let’s do our best to raise GOOD sons to become BETTER men and thus the BEST of Fathers and husbands~

So much is capable if we follow Mother Teresa’s advice of serving the less fortunate in little ways…every day! And that was also the mantra of arguably the most revered of modern day saints, St Therese of Lisieux…known as the LITTLE FLOWER whom died at age 22.  She  ALWAYS SMILED and gave ‘hope & encouragement’ to everyone in her path to serve others in ‘little ways’! All of us are capable of that! Beginning within our own homes…our circle of friends…and especially to those WITHOUT friends..and trust me, there are many like that! And can we not give hope & encouragement to COMPLETE strangers? If we do….be forewarned, they could well  become the BEST of friends!

And  now, I mention a special young man (of so many within my life!)  that I first met on the football field while officiating in the league that I formed 38 years ago to keep our 10 brothers active, together and hopefully ALIVE~! And yes….all of us still ARE. Is that also NOT a miracle? Back to this young man! Andrew is his name…met him at age 15, playing touch football with mostly men! When I saw him leap in the air tween two defenders to the highest point of the football, catching it akin to the best of any pro catch…I knew at that very moment that this kid was special! From that day on, Andrew was within my life and I did my best to give him ‘hope & encouragement’ while watching him not only play touch football in my league but high school football as well where as expected, he was theee star!

Andrew calls me POP (for Prince Of   Play!) and though he had many many struggles and obstacles in his life, raised by a single  caring social worker mom, Andrew never ever gave up on chasing his dream…that of pro football! Will share more about this special man whom also became a father at a very young age to little Hazel! Andrew Harris #33 is now playing for his hometown Blue Bombers and Andrew was awarded the  MVP Canadian in the 2017 season…  ~  I love this young man~~

I was once challenged as to why I was speaking in schools when I did not even have a degree! I smiled and said..”No, I do not have a degree but I have  six decades of  LIVING, LOVING & BEING LOVED!” And if there ever was a need for LOVE in OUR WORLD, our COMMUNITY, our  FAMILIES….and in OUR HOMES…I believe   “IT’S TIME!”

It is my intention and wish to continue to do the following through this web site:

• To help many youths REMAIN in school or RETURN to school. Every subject or course passed is another key received to open another door. Fill that key chain!
• To help Dads realise there is no better masterpiece they can  help to create than what is within the womb of GOD’S last and best creation…WOMAN! To help these young Dads stay in the lifes of their kids! That its never too late to be a caring Dad. NEVER! If you must ask for forgiveness …or to forgive…do so!
• To assist single parents towards pursuing further education as well as to guide or direct them to available social service programs that they may not be aware of.
• Mentoring students:  Being a better listener than talker IS huge! Giving HOPE and ENCOURAGEMENT can make such a positive impact upon our students.
• To provide simple recreational and sport programs for families and youths in need that cannot afford to participate or play in the more costly structured sports.
• Mentoring and developing  good boys towards becoming  better young men and then the best of husbands and fathers. Our girls and women deserve no less!
• To promote the SIMPLICITY of PLAY and encourage and help other communities to develop similar JUST LET THEM PLAY programs…in their communities for FREE!
• Last but not least: Hopefully through this site I will be able to reach out and connect with more students, parents, grandparents, counsellors, caregivers, educators, schools, organizations, and communities to discuss and share my messages and programs.

Important announcement: John is also excited to announce the return of the World Championships Of Sponge Hockey in January of 2022~ An ever growing ‘army’ of volunteers will be welcoming thousands into the 2nd coldest city in the world (within the category of  a pop. over 600,000)~ Winnipeg was 1st~(now a city in China)~ John is the  CEO & General Manager of the Worlds 2022! It’s Time!~~ 10 days within the CITYOFPLAY.CA

Note: For additional bio info on John’s journey, his early years growing up, becoming a father at age 18, single Dad of two baby boys at age 20 and his pursuit of his passions… tag here

Following are short scenes from John’s book which will be published and released in the fall of 2020 with John still living the final chapters and as John cites…even he does not know how his book ends and he says ” Is that NOT exciting?” He’s ALWAYS SMILING~

The last scene herein will be the OPENING scene of the book when John was 10 years old! Just picture this scene if it is in a movie~ PRICELESS~

May tag following  short scenes from book…

The Woman in Red

Valentines Day 

Love Letter to Nick Laping

Opening Scene in Book