Adversity was never designed to be an “if”, but only and always a “when” event.
Regardless of the meticulous nature of one’s preparation, the sacrifice that has been offered up or the character of the individual putting forth the effort, adversity will appear. Seemingly random in its appearance or somehow timed to parallel a crowning moment.
Therein lay its purpose.
Adversity exists to gauge one’s mettle across the entire personal spectrum; physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. Never is it meant to designate one’s value, status or position.
Question effort, intent or commitment.
Or qualify that moment as an “it was never meant to be”, “I really didn’t deserve this anyways” or “I really didn’t want this” occurrence.
Those types of reactions are purely of one’s own making. To save face. Restore ego. Shrug off impact. Diminish circumstances. Such responses are created in such a way as to allow one-self to skirt the absolute truth of the matter. To excuse. Deflect. Avoid. Ignore. And prepare one not only an escape route from failure, but from ever trying to overcome that the next time it will happen.
Adversity merely seeks to draw one’s attention to a particular aspect of the present, in order to reveal what more is needed of oneself in the future. Identify where there is capacity to learn. To grow. Develop. And change for the better.
So embrace this lesson for what it really is.
Lean into what it is genuinely offering.
And allow it to teach you what will be needed of you in the days, weeks, months and years to come.
Yes, it stings right now.
Yet all that has been born out of it will have positive outcomes. The potential to effect lasting change. To reach another level. Achieve. And ultimately, succeed.
If only you can see it for what it really is; an opportunity.
Adversity is merely a vision test.
So you can understand where you were and see what you can ultimately become.
It will always be about attending to the details. The minutiae and small moments that we tend to grant a free pass. Overlooked. Disregarded. Ignored. Because somehow, we convince ourselves that “they don’t matter”. Dismissively wondering, “how can they possibly add up?”
But all those things do matter.
They are intended to accumulate, fortify and reinforce you. Adding to the finished product in their own discrete way. It’s just that they do so on their own time. And though they seem inconsequential and irrelevant alone, they carry a considerable mass when combined. That certain something that is essential to your long term building process.
Perhaps this past week, you attended to some of them. Covering several inches that soon became feet. Soon, those will become yards and then, you will be farther from where and how you began. What and who you are working towards becomes more apparent. Incremental progress is being made.
But more inches need to be gained today and every day going forward.
Every little thing you do right here right now adds to that something which is infinitely larger than you could ever imagine. You may think you have given all you can. But there is more to be expended. Nothing can be held in reserve. You just have to commit, persist, believe and trust in it.
You are getting there. It’s just that you are not who, what or where you are meant to be yet. Accept that as an expression of an awareness of the incredible opportunity you possess. Carry it as such.
Cover those additional inches each moment now so you can become what you are all meant to be then. Because when all is said and done, it’s all about where they will ultimately lead.
“Gratitude is a “belief and conviction that serves as a constant reminder of what you have been given, where you came from and whose shoulders you are standing on now. “
It is more than a mere “thank you” and far deeper than simple appreciation.
Gratitude is the humble acknowledgement of the extraordinary role that others have played in getting you to this point in your life. A modest recognition of how their influence first got you started. Then pushed you to keep going. And continued to encourage you to achieve whatever it was you desired.
When it comes right down to it, gratitude is a way of being.
Thinking, speaking and acting in such a way as to honor how others intentionally gave you all they had to give, so you could achieve, excel and succeed. Gratis.
Gratitude is about developing a mindset that is rooted in humility. And coming to possess an “attitude of gratitude”.
So if you will, please indulge me for a moment.
Take a look back, reflect and think of all you have been freely “given”, gifted or entrusted with by others throughout your life. Not so much in terms of things. But rather the time. Talent. Wisdom. Support. And love. Now, this is an exercise that can be a staggering undertaking if you attempt an honest assessment of such a big picture.
So let’s just focus on one small aspect of our life. Perhaps it was as a player or coach. Something we all share in common.
You want to talk about blessings?
The opportunity to play at the youth, high school and college level. To learn to love that game from some great fathers, mothers, men, women, mentors and teammates. To receive the undying support of parents, siblings, extended family, friends, entire student bodies, communities and educational institutions. To be present in an environment where we can cultivate life-long friendships. To learn, accumulate and put into practice some of the most treasured lessons on life – from some of the greatest games ever invented. And simply just be a part of all of this.
Think about the distance we have all traveled.
Not just in a geographic sense. But mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and physically. Where all of us first started, where we are today and the path each of us intends to follow thereafter. Consider how far we have come as a person. Friend. Son. Student. Man.Woman. Athlete. Coach.
Now, never would I diminish anyone’s effort, intention, commitment or role throughout any of this.
But to be honest, where we are today isn’t so much just because of anything one of us did on our own. Rather, it all pretty much came down to what others thought of us. Saw within us. Believed in each of us. Entrusted to us. And yes, eventually, expected every single one of us to do. Because those individuals had so much faith in each one of us – first as players and then as coaches – our transformation became possible.
They pushed each of us in precisely the right manner. Challenged us to embrace the work, to make the commitment, aim our aspirations higher and achieve at a higher level than we ever imagined. They loved us enough to carry us on their shoulders. A vantage point that reveals a bigger picture. To help ensure that our present might match what they envisioned our future to someday be.
Even now, their all encompassing and enduring support remains. Taking us even farther and higher than ever dreamed. There is no way to repay their generosity. To compensate them for what they gave us in terms of their time, their effort, their support and unyielding faith. In a certain sense, we will forever be indebted to them. And yet, this was never a transaction, A quid pro quo. It was simply a gift. Freely given without condition. Strings or attachments.
So it is incumbent on each of us to acknowledge the extraordinary role that others have played in getting each of us to this point in our lives. Recognize how their influence got us started. How they pushed us to keep going. And continue to encourage all of us to achieve whatever it was we desired.
...my temporary assignment. 