What CAN I do?

When I was in 8th grade, I tried out for the volleyball team and didn’t make the cut. A big reason was because I couldn’t do the required overhand serve. My tiny arm couldn’t hit the ball very far. I was upset for a split second until something told me to ask the coach, “What CAN I do?” I wasn’t one to quit so easily. So I became the team ‘manager’…I went to practices and games, watched what they did, practiced with a couple friends on the team. I signed up for volleyball every single day in gym class, practicing my over hand serve whenever it was my turn. I went home and practiced hitting a soccer ball against the house. Try - outs were in August/September….I don’t think I successfully hit an overhand serve in gym until around April. And it was amazing. Not the serve itself. But that feeling I felt for not quitting and taking short cuts, even if I looked ridiculous with every failure. Even though I may have been the weakest link in gym class, I didn’t allow it to keep me from putting the time in I needed to succeed. [caption id="attachment_58657" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Image credit: http://kimmygerona.wordpress.com/2013/03/09/like-a-snail-baby-take-it-slowy/[/caption] How do you face your challenges? If it's something that brings you down, it's time to start thinking about them in a new way. Ask yourself:

• What CAN I do?
• What would I be able to accomplish if I did not quit?
• How can this challenge make me better?

Giving in to those feelings of "I just can't do this" will ensure that you will never be able to do it. Negativity will simply cloud your eyes from all the possibilities and opportunities this challenge presents. I can say that out of all of the things I learned through that experience, determination and consistency are the greatest strengths I developed. It felt like this whole task was placed before me to solidify values that were to carry me forward in life. It was never about the overhand serve. It was about the journey getting there.