For years I would avoid doing things so that I wouldn't fail them. Let me tell you how that worked out for me.
It didn't. I would avoid homework, not because I didn't want to do it but because I didn't want to be wrong. Don't get me wrong, the classroom is not a place for me. I don't sit still well, I don't concentrate well. Have you ever looked out your window? The world is a beautiful place and that's where I'd rather be. Always have. Always will. More on me later.
What brought me to write this one was my daughter. Well, one of them anyways. She almost forgot to wish her step mom and happy birthday this week and it's because she said she had too much on her mind. Ummm you're 14, how much can you actually have in your mind.
So I asked and her response was "just thinking about school and worried about how well I'll do"
My answer was quick and simple "you'll do your best and that's all you can do"
I elaborated a bit more and she said "thanks dad that really helps"
It got me to thinking about when I was that age and how I always compared myself to everyone. Didn't matter if they were smarter, better dressed, better looking, jobs, money, everything.
It took me a long time to realize that I can't be everyone. Everyone can't be me. I'm a diamond in the rough! No really my mom told me I am!
Thanks to a celebrity that I admire, a lot, (Dwayne "the rock" Johnson) I've accepted that I'm not the best at everything. But I will outwork you. He always says, be the hardest worker in the room. He doesn't expect anyone to have the same workout regimen or even work ethic. You don't have to mirror what he does but whatever you do, do it at your best. Outwork your competition. Whatever your results , they're yours and you can leave knowing you left it all out there. In the classroom, sports, work, marriage whatever!
I'm not the best dad, or husband or friend. I'm sure there's better ones out there. Maybe. What defines better? I don't live with all my kids and try to make it to everything I can. I can't bankroll their lives although they do try! As a husband I've learnt to be more conscious of my wife's needs and wants. Only took me twice to learn that. As a friend I'm here for ya. I do what I can with what I have and I'm surrounded by some pretty awesome people.
List three successes you've had. I did this with a friend today and she came up with two. I came up with easily three more. It's all in how you look at it. Ever set a personal best in the gym? Success. How many championship games have you lost? Win any? Success. If you fall 7 times get up 8! You've heard it before but it's true. If you fall and don't get up you fail. If you fall and get up then you've succeeded. You didn't let failing stop you. Failing sucks. It's crushing. Probably why they don't call it winning. But if you use that crushing feeling as fuel or motivation and keep going back for more until you win then that's success.
I know a lot of people that didn't graduate high school. Didn't go to college. They're some of the most successful people I know because they've had to work for everything they have. They hustle. They grind. They outwork their competition. Don't get me wrong. You should finish school. Even college it make sure you don't go for the sake of going and then get stuck with a degree you'll never use!
I'm sitting in one of my favourite places right now. The Rocky Mountains of Canada. I love it here. I made it here.
I've wanted to be here my entire life but life kept throwing curveballs and fastballs at me. Even spitballs. (Didn't hit any of those) I hit some of them. I struck out more often then not. But I'm here. I didn't quit. I set a goal and I achieved that goal. I have a great job thanks to past experiences. I believed I was the best person for that job and I got it. My wife believed in me and supported our move here. I worked my ass off to get here. I don't know how long it will last but I'll enjoy every second I'm here.
It's funny when I say I think I'm the best at what I do. I lost a business I owned and went bankrupt. I still think I'm the best at what I do. Partially from failing. Partially from succeeding. It took both to make me who I am.
One of my favourite quotes from The GOAT:
"I've missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I've been trusted to take the game-winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed."
Man I love this quote. He's the greatest of all time and he's failed so many times!!
Now I know my daughter is reading this and I have a simple message for you baby girl. Do the work. Simple right?
I don't expect you to be on the honour roll. You don't have to have the best marks or be the best gymnast. All I ask is that you do your best. You put in every effort you can and never, ever be afraid to ask for help when you need it. If you do that I don't know if I'll be able to keep up with all your successes. You be the best version of you, the artist, the singer, the friend, the daughter and that's what we'll measure your success on. Not marks. Not a bank account. Not by how many possessions you have!
That's a simple message for anyone reading this. Go out there and be the best version of you. In the end that's all we can be!
Time to head home to the backyard, Grab the Hose and Take a Drink!
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