| There will always be challenges to getting what we | | | | stepping stone. |
| want in life. At least there will be if it's anything worth | | | | My favorite example of this was during our boys high |
| having. Think about it: the things you desire most are | | | | school team's first winter lacrosse season. We had |
| generally the things you can't have or at least the | | | | one player who was extremely fast, a middle school |
| things that are difficult to get. The journey becomes | | | | sprint champion. He had great potential to play |
| so much the reward. | | | | midfield and do well utilizing his speed. When I arrived |
| If that's the case, and we all understand that the | | | | at the indoor center for our game, I had several |
| journey is so much of the reward, how come we | | | | players come to me and tell me that Blake had been |
| get so worried about challenges? We see the | | | | bitten by a spider and couldn't run. They asked me if |
| obstacles as a reason why we can't and not a | | | | he could play goalie that day so he could still be on |
| reason why we can. What we need to do is change | | | | the field. |
| that vision. | | | | I told them that I had to make sure it was okay |
| Look at the track and field event the steeplechase. I | | | | with the other two goalies we were trying out (it |
| have always thought that was one of the coolest | | | | was only fair), and then I would think about it. Of |
| events in all of sport and is quite possibly the reason | | | | course, neither of the other two goalies showed up |
| I signed up to run distance races in high school. (I | | | | that day. Blake took the spot, made some incredible |
| would later find out that steeplechase was not a | | | | saves due to his great reflexes (he earned the |
| sanctioned event in Nebraska.) These guys are | | | | nickname "Spiderman" after that) and never gave up |
| running around this track for miles, and every time | | | | that spot. He went on the next year to become |
| they come around, they have this giant roadblock in | | | | All-State Honorable Mention and Most Valuable Player |
| the way. What a pain! | | | | and now serves as my defensive coordinator. |
| Nope. It's an advantage! The runners use the road | | | | Had Blake seen the spider bite as a roadblock, our |
| block to springboard themselves over the water on | | | | team would likely have lost many games that year, |
| the other side, allowing them to take flight. Without | | | | and he likely would not have become the leader and |
| that obstacle, it's just a bunch of guys running around | | | | defensive mind that he is. Don't forget the fact that |
| in circles. It's the obstacles that make the journey. | | | | our two goalies were missing that day too. That |
| And just like our steeplechase analogy, everyone has | | | | could have also been a potential roadblock. Instead |
| roadblocks in their life. In that race, all competitors | | | | both were stepping stones to a very good lacrosse |
| must negotiate the obstacle, not just some. We all | | | | career and the development of a fantastic person |
| have certain circumstances that come infront of us | | | | and great program. |
| that we can chose to be a roadblock or a stepping | | | | What roadblocks in your life can be turned into |
| stone. Here's a tip: the successful ones turn it into a | | | | stepping stones? |