We are coming to the end of the alphabet and as we all know, the end of another great race. Today’s “Y” is all about ying and yang….the Chinese philosophy of complementary opposites that make up all aspects of life. As I’ve reflected on the Iditarod and my experience here, it is not lost on me the number of ying/yang moments there are when you take the time to really dig into what has occurred the last two weeks. Mushers have gone from great excitement and nervous energy at the start to the calm solitude of the trail. They have also come full circle, again shifting from the isolation of the trail, just them and their dogs, to the chaos of race fans. Mushers have endured sleep deprivation, illness, and stress to the relative calm and rest of a hotel bed and warm food. Mushers have gone from racing day after day to sitting and signing autographs today. Dogs have transitioned from the daily energy of happily running mile after mile for days on end to peaceful slumber in the sunshine of the dog lot in Nome. This town has shifted from crowded cheering to silence in the street as the Finish banner is taken down for another year. Volunteers have pivoted from constant jobs and responsibilities to scanning the flight manifest for their name and a ticket home. Fans and crowds have pivoted from the party atmostphere on Front Street to the move back into family and work life. As with all things in life, there is coming and going. The Iditarod is no exception. So, our final ying and yang will be the sadness that it is once again over for another year shifting to the excitement and anticipation for Iditarod 2027. Who will enter? What dogs will return and what dogs will be first timers? What musher will you be rooting for? There is however one thing that is steady and constant, never changing with this race…the unconditional and unwavering love for the dogs!
Ying/Yang!
It’s the perfect opportunity to focus on opposites in the classroom, no matter how complex or simple they may be!
