Motivation. The hardest challenge is to support one another.
Dare to dream big together! Motivation.
This week I was thinking a lot about what gives me the fire to compete and to go after my goals. I began thinking about an experience a long time ago when I was a high school athlete playing field hockey and how it shaped my drive as an athlete. What happened to me is an example of why we need to raise our children to challenge themselves but also to support others in reaching towards success. There is no need in life to put others down or to belittle someone else’s dreams of reaching success. We all have different paths to success and we should all work our hardest to lift each other up. What happened to me and to my friend is something that occurs on a regular basis in schools on the sports field, locker rooms, classrooms and even in life as adults.
Every summer our school would invite prospective team members to field hockey camp for one week during the summer. Field hockey camp was a place to work on your skills on the field and to spend time practicing with the players who would hopefully be your teammates in the fall. We were all there to learn and practice the same skills and to learn to work cohesively with each other to be a successful team. While each player must master skills on their own it is the power of how the team works together on the field that will bring success on game day. Individual players while shining with their own skills will not find success if they cannot pass the ball and work plays together on the field.
Camp was going well I thought and I was excited about the upcoming season and trying out for the Varsity team. I had already been on JV for a year or two at this point and was hoping to move up. What happened next at camp made a lasting impression on me. We were having down time in our cabin, a break between practice sessions and were all hanging out together. I am not sure why it was said but in passing one of the older players in a conversation with me and a friend casually told us, “You will never have a chance to make the Varsity Team. You just aren’t good enough.” At that point I said nothing. I was extremely hurt but couldn’t respond. This comment was blunt and stung like a knife. I was working just as hard as the others and so was my friend. This comment was made at a time when no coaches were present and only one other older player was close enough within earshot. It was a comment that was meant to hurt and meant to break our confidence. It was a comment that was meant to belittle. I don’t think I spoke of this to anyone until I was much older but it did eat away at me. I chewed on what this girl had said and it made me feel uncomfortable on the field at practice because I did not feel supported as a team member. Why was this said?
In the short term this one small comment hurt me emotionally but in the long term what was said that day ignited a spark within me to prove that I was strong and that no one could control the outcome of my success. We live in a culture that sometimes promotes putting others down in order to gain personal success. It happens even as adults where comments can be made or actions that try to make others feel as though they are not good enough. This culture is spread through our generations if it is what we teach our children and if we allow this kind of negative intimidation to occur. We need to teach our children to compete and to challenge each other but also to cheer each other on. We will be stronger individuals if we work collectively to strengthen each other. As adults we need to support each others challenges but also each others dreams.
I never did make the Varsity team but I did play my heart out on the Junior Varsity Team that year. I could have let that comment from a senior varsity player break me down but instead it is something that I think about sometimes and then I realize that I can achieve what I set my mind to. Life may throw obstacles in the way but we should not let negative comments or actions be the determining factor to the outcome of our dreams.
Don’t let anyone else stand in the way of what you want. Negative comments directed at you may come from a place of insecurity. Instead challenge each other to work hard and to achieve your very best together. Share your motivation and dare to dream!
Have you ever been discouraged due to someone else’s negativity and unsupportive nature? How did you deal with that situation?
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We SHOULD motivate each other’s dreams and goals, but for those who just will never learn to do that…we need to brush the hurt and negativity off and prove them wrong! You can do it!
Wow, totally brought a tear to my eye, as this rings so true for me too. What doesn’t kill us makes us stronger. I am so glad to hear that comment ignited a spark and you played strong. And you have moved on to be an inspiration to others.
Katie | Healthy Seasonal Recipes recently posted…thursday things ~ what’s been happening in the 802
Kids can be so mean! I used to get picked on all the time for being fat. Sad that school is like that for so many of us growing up.
I try to always support and be motivating to others. It’s the best way to live. ☺
I have yet to figure out why women feel so determined to compete with each other. I certainly had my share of negative nelly’s and as a teen it was very hard to ignore…now I am better equipped to remember what matters.
Amanda – RunToTheFinish recently posted…The Hidden Reason Your Performance is Suffering
I was really insecure as a child (and young adult) and I think some people can smell it on a person–and those who are really cruel feed into it. I can think of multiple instances when people’s comments cut me to the core. I like to think that I’m over that now–for almost everything in my life I am, but my teenage son is doing is best to tear me down. And there is my vulnerability.
Wendy@Taking the Long Way Home recently posted…Taking the Long Way Home Book Club Book Review: Tales From Another Mother Runner
Wow. My teenage self would have been cowering in a corner. I completely agree with Wendy’s comment – some people can smell it and thrive on “feeding” off it. Thankfully my confidence has grown quite a bit since then. Can you imagine what women could achieve if we all supported each other rather than tear each other down? We’d rule the world!
Angela @ happy fit mama recently posted…High Five Friday
Everyone is so unique and different – women should lift each other up!!
I think life is too short for negativity and I try to focus on the goodness and leave the negativity behind. Easier to say now as we have more life experiences… I know my daughters will have their share of teenage angst, but I hope they always are each others hugest cheerleaders. Good luck with the RW contest – going to vote now!! 🙂
Natalie recently posted…Friday Favorites!
I don’t want or need the negativity in my life. I worked really hard to remove toxic people and relationships from my life as much as possible.
Don’t women realize how good it feels to lift each other up? Why wouldn’t you?
Good luck with the RW contest!
I had several experiences as a kid. I was never great at one sport, but I loved to play. Kids are mean and cruel sometimes and it isn’t until we are adults that we realize this unfortunately. That is why I LOVE this online running community. Everyone lifts each other up and it is rare to find people putting each other down. It’s is truly a community that lifts everyone up. I wish we could change this for our kids!! Great post!
I’m sorry you experienced that as a student athlete. It seems to be difficult for people to be competitive but support each other , especially women. We should lift each other up, not put each other down.
Toni recently posted…Tips On How To Regain Your Motivation When It Dwindles
Do you know that almost the exact same thing happened to me back in my HS field hockey days?! (minus the comment from another player) At my school it was always assumed that all juniors and seniors made varsity- and some sophomores were moved up (freshman were generally on JV). When I was a junior there was a huge varsity team and one other junior and I were left back on JV. I remember being so hurt because it was expected that as a junior you made varsity, so I felt like there was something wrong with me. I played my heart out that year and I made varsity my senior year and was on the starting team. To be honest, I think I needed that experience to really remind me that things in life won’t always come easy and you need to be willing to work towards your goals. I have definitely carried that lesson over into my running and other areas of life!
Lisa @ Running Out Of Wine recently posted…Thursdays Really Are For Thinking Out Loud
I don’t know why so many people try to bring out the worse in others, but instead of focusing on that we should all instead be focusing on bringing one another up!
I try to surround myself with positive people so I haven’t had that happen to me before. Not sure how I’d handle it tbh…
GiselleR @ Diary of an ExSloth recently posted…Make the most of Limited Kitchen Space
kid
kids can be so cruel and some adults can be so thoughtless. I ran with a lady once who’s pace was much faster than mine…she made the comment that if she ran my pace she may as well walk. I knew she didn’t mean for that comment to hurt my feelings, which it didn’t…but kinda annoyed me…but she just simply didn’t think. If what you are saying is not building someone up make sure it’s not tearing them down.
Love this – don’t let anyone else stand in the way of what you want. Preach it!! I wish more people knew they were allowed to give themselves this kind of power!
Sam @ PancakeWarriors recently posted…The Zappos Experience
Awesome post every single quote gives motivation, So keep posting and motivate us every time thanks sharing with us.