I love this quote! As we welcome the new year, it is the perfect time to reflect on the year we leave behind and the goals we plan to achieve in the year before us.
One of my favorite moments of 2016 was experiencing Little League All-Stars. Youth ball players all over the world dream of becoming an All-Star. Many of them get a taste of the beginning stages of the experience, but few teams actually make it to Williamsport for the Little League World Series. It is a long journey. Regardless of how far these teams make it in the summer months, I found that the lessons learned, the values instilled, and the experiences a ball player goes through are just as valuable as winning the championship title.
As a parent and crazy baseball enthusiast, I still find myself in awe of the example one of our local All-Star teams set last season. Moments before the first game began, a few of the team members, my son included, fell ill with a nasty stomach bug. I’ll spare you the details but my first reaction as a parent was that these kids couldn’t possibly play. However, I saw something in my son and his teammates that blew my mind. They weren’t going to let illness prevent them from playing. They worked too hard to give up on the chance to experience something as special as Little League All-Stars. Not everyone understands what it means to be a part of a team or the many lessons that come with being an athlete. Many of these boys had given up a large part of their summer and even missed family vacations for the chance to play baseball and represent their baseball leagues.
This illness somehow worked its way through much of the team. Sadly, they didn’t win either of their first two games and were eliminated in the first round. It would be easy to assume many things, but I couldn’t be a prouder parent and supporter of this team. It was amazing to watch a group of boys grow into young men and make decisions for each other rather than themselves. Their persistence and dedication meant much more than the final score.
My son and his teammates taught me many things. You may have obstacles, but the experiences that come with these obstacles can be teaching moments that will be with us for life. They help shape us into the people we want to be. They prepare us for what lies ahead.
In 2017 I plan to strive for persistence; persistence in business and persistence in life.
How will you be persistent in 2017?
