Today I watched my 10 year old son play his first soccer game of the season. Despite his team losing, for most of the
first half they played really well. As the other team got more goals, I watched
as the team started to get discouraged; especially the goalie. His
whole body language changed, his shoulders drooped and he lost enthusiasm to
try as hard to stop the ball entering the goal. This of course meant the other
team scored more goals. The more discouraged my sons team got, the more goals
the other team scored.
At half time, the coaches gathered the team around them and
tried to cheer them up, urging them not to lose heart. One of the children on
the team told the coach that the other team were laughing and teasing them
because they were losing. The coach told the team to get determined and show them
their talent. He told them if they wanted to annoy the other team, get out
there and score goals and show them what they are made of.
Isn't that a bit like life?
We either get down or
get determined!
Life will always have its moments when we feel like we are losing,
running uphill or not being appreciated for who we are. We either let it get us
down and we stop and retreat into the shadows of our best selves or we take a deep breath and
figure out how we can get determined to find resolution.
I saw the perfect example of getting determined today, as I
got the chance to know a beautiful lady with Multiple Sclerosis. She has plenty
of reasons to get down and to feel like giving up but she has chosen the
opposite attitude. She embraces all opportunities to find ways to carry on with
life, regardless of her MS. She is in a wheelchair and she was excited to show
her new car that has recently been fitted out with a lift for her chair and special
handle bars to help her maneuver in and out of the car. It also has hand controls so that she can
accelerate and brake with her hands.
She told me of the many things she had to do that afternoon. As she told me I realised how many times she would get in and out of the
car and lift her wheel chair in and out. I was so inspired. I find it hard when
I am tired to find the energy to get all my 'to do' things done and I have
the full use of my body!! I took a moment to reflect on how much I take my
freedom for granted. When I choose to be determined to overcome what I find difficult, I feel a whole lot better about myself and a whole lot more confident in what I can achieve!
If you were to believe that there was a way to find
determination….
What could be different?
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