I have an athlete at the high school who is a very talented runner. Maybe he has the potential to be a better runner than he is, if he tries running hard at practice when he is asked. He thinks he's a soccer player, lacrosse player, basketball player, or whatever, but when it comes down to it, he likes running a lot because he's got more energy than he knows how to control. ADHD....positive energy without direction. Track and field athletes....ADHD children with focus and a purpose, or just people that want to see how good they really are compared to others. Anyway, back to storytime...
The conversation went like this,
"I challenge you to be good all season rather than just in championship time"
"That sounds hard"
"It is, but its only as hard as you make it"
"What do you mean?"
"Well if you practice running hard, pushing your own limits, doing your best, when you are asked to, you take the personal challenge of being the best you can be, and recover on those days that you are not asked to work as hard but still stay focused. Running at a meet won't seem that bad because you will have practiced competing in practice and you will be ready. If you take track seriously, and you enjoy the process of becoming good, you will be. When it comes down to it, if you shoot for the moon, you will land among the stars. So have fun at practice, that's what Olympians do, they love practice, or well, they know its good for them so they do it often. They also know that if they do not focus entirely on practicing they will not get the most out of themselves when it comes time for the US Championships or the Boston Marathon, whatvever. They have gotten over the fact that some days are better than others and no matter what type of day it is, it is making you stronger. When it comes to a big race, the only thing holding you back is yourself. You have to be willing to put in 1% more than your competition because if you do, you will beat them because you have the confidence to do so."
"Why?"
"I say, why not, you're a senior, you've got a chance to be really good at something and you've got a chance to be a hero and to be the best. Go for it. You have nothing to lose except time because you will be running faster than you ever have before. Olympic champions are not made overnight but they are determined to be the best they can be and to never be satisfied with second place."
"Well, I actually like practice way better than competing. If I could just practice running, and have no meets it'd be better."
"Well, practice hard when you are asked to, and then the meets will seem like a piece of cake."
"I like cake." (this is fake...but it would have been funny if they really said cake).
This conversation is a mixture of several conversations with athletes on Wednesday. The point is that if you enjoy practice at whatever intensity you best enjoy, you enjoy life. Once you get to the meet, big event, show, whatever, you will thrive, rather than just survive. If you practice living life to its fullest, you will get back more than you had ever hoped for in return.
Continue making a difference and saving the world because I need your help. There is strength in numbers. Oh and remember to smile during the holidays, especially around your family and in public, you will make someone's day, possibly your own as well.
Heidi
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