An Engaging Personality

There are times in our lives when we have the opportunity to meet a person who really makes us be glad we're on the planet.
Maybe they've awed us with something they've accomplished.
Maybe they're nice to talk to or have a great story to tell and tell it well.
Maybe they're a 'star'.

On Saturday I had the chance to meet and be present for a one on one interview with Paul Henderson.

If you're doing a little head scratching. It's the Paul Henderson who scored the winning goal in the 1972 Team Canada vs. Russia Hockey series.
The hockey series that the entire country was glued to fuzzy TV images of.
The hockey series that I, along with the rest of the classes, were piled into the Armour Heights Public School gym to watch the games on a few TV's set up.
The hockey series that set a bench mark for all other hockey series.

That Paul Henderson.

The Man was doing an interview with Mr. Henderson in Kincardine at a travelling display of Paul's hockey jersey that he wore when he scored the goal.
Sounds silly right?
Well, it's Canadian, it's hockey and it's an iconic moment in history. So we, as Canadians, celebrate weird things like a hockey jersey that the player wore when he scored the winning goal (this is for my Czech relatives who may wonder!)

I was present for the interview. There were only the 3 of us in a cramped storage area behind the display.
I took some pictures of the Man and Paul during the interview. They're great.
This was an amazing glimpse into what a truly engaging personality is.
Paul was honest, articulate, enthusiastic and you just wanted to hear him say more about his days in hockey. What he felt about hockey now, what he felt about the display of the jersey and what it meant to Canadians and what it meant to be Canadian himself at that time.

I know, I know, he's just a guy who scored a goal. But to hear him describe it you can imagine still the energy and thrill it was to compete in something as big as the '72 series was.

His philosophy on life is no less energetic and uplifting. I was inspired and honoured.

I hope in my lifetime to meet many people that have that love of not only their country but of their own accomplishments and their own faith and belief in what they do is good and for good.
Paul inspired me to think about what I do from day to day and it may not be totally amazing or something that makes the nation sit up and take note but it is good and for good.

Paul Henderson is truly and engaging personality and I have been honoured to make his acquaintance.

Oh yeah, and the jersey and the interactive display around the series was pretty cool too.