Tell me if this conversation sounds familiar, “I want that life.. I want that
job, or I want to look like that… (and then the proverbial…) But I can’t… it
will never happen… Not in this life time” Truth is, its not that you "can't",
rather you won't or choose not to incorporate the time or dedication in to your
schedule... The Life you create is based on decision and choices delegated by
you… If you’re sitting on a couch wondering what happened, or staring at a
reflection you don’t recognize, either enjoy the subpar situation, or DO
something about it!
Think about the elite athletes who’ve achieved pinnacle
success. There was a time in an athlete’s development where they had decisions
and choices to make. Of course, many may have an entourage of influences
pointing them in certain directions. What about that athlete that has been
surrounded by poverty and crime? That individual that has nothing with only
dirt, determination, and an internal voice whispering to them, “It’s gotta get
better, it has to get better”? These athletes, like Patrick Willis had choices…
Even with parents going to jail, displaying all the attributes we warn our
children about… Even being raised out of a shanty shack-of-a-home and handed to
foster parents, Patrick never lost touch with responsibility and an internal fortitude
of becoming a giving, nurturing, and productive human being. Tim Robbins has an
incredible piece highlighting a diversity of individuals experiencing the same
spiraling circumstances, yet some of them overcame hardship, tackled
challenging obstacles and prevailed. What was the difference between them? Some
examples of such individuals are Michael Ohr, Jason Pierre-Paul, Johnny Unitas,
and recent sensation Jeremy Lin. The likes of Johnny Unitas or Babe Didrikson
did not possess the concept of “I can’t” in their vocabulary, regardless of
circumstances. Each one of the pinnacle performers I’ve mentioned did not allow
temporary situations dissuade their ambitions. Some of the iconic figures where
statues were built in their honor began with humble humility of getting cut
more than once on their way to greatness. Instead of throwing in the towel,
quitting, or giving up, each one reflected on what steps they had to make in
order to reach their goals, to succeed!
I’ve been ignoring my dream of writing and sports analysis
for years… I’ve allowed fear suffocate my confidence, placing my mind in a
black and white world. Eeyor and Negative Nellie have dogpiled on my optimism
feeding me crazy ideas that I had to choose one path, and begrudgingly give up others.
The passion I have in eloquently depicting near perfection in motion have been
trapped in my cerebellum collecting cobwebs far too long! I’m selling myself
short; I am underachieving… Luckily, the great success stories of Willis and
Unitas are just a few mouse-clicks away, feeding me reminders of tenacity and
determination. I choose “I can”… I will sweep off those dust bunnies dulling my
ambition and refuse to give in to limitations. So what if I’m decades older
than the average intern? I am not finished… I am not giving up!
If you have doubts or hesitations, and allowing them to change your path… Here’s a couple inspiring reminders:
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