"You don't luck your way to the top of the mountain...you climb."
I remember an instance in my senior season at the high school state tournament where my coach signaled for me to try and pick off a runner on first base with the bases loaded late into a tied game. It was a risk – a big one. The risk was big. So was the reward. She was a big out. We won that game.
What do you want? Right now, more than anything, what is it that you want? What drives you? What motivates you? What dream sets your soul on fire? Whatever it is…go get it. Stop thinking about why you can’t and start thinking about how you can. Stop making excuses. Start making progress.
I thought when I finished college, I’d never play softball again. But when I realized the fire in me hadn’t died – I did everything I could to find a way to play again. I did research. I sent e-mails. I called people. I did everything in my power to figure out how I could play again. And then the opportunity presented itself. When it did, I had to make choices. I had to do what a lot of people would call irresponsible. I quit my teaching job, put my stuff in storage, and moved to a new country within a month. It would have been easy to stay – to keep teaching and coaching – to stay comfortable and safe. What I was doing was risky. But with high risk comes high reward. I moved to Canada and got to play ball again with a group of girls who made me love the game even more than I already did. I’ve met amazing people from around the world and cultivated relationships that will last a lifetime.
From there I decided I had a new dream. I wanted to play professionally and I wanted to travel the world. So I did. Because…well…who said I couldn’t? I called. I e-mailed. I messaged. I hounded until I got names and contact information of people who could help me. No body walked up to me and said, “Here’s your ticket to Europe.” I went out and got it. Once again, I packed my life up and moved to a new country to play softball. It was risky. It was hard. Just as I had settled into a new life with new friends, a boyfriend, and a team – I left again. But it was worth it. I was able to get paid to play the game I love. I was able to backpack Europe and see and experiences things I never thought I would get to all because I decided to take the risk - to go for the big out.
I lived and continue to live ‘the dream’ of traveling the world. People tell me I’m lucky. I’m not lucky. I just work hard. I am not extraordinary. I am an ordinary person, with ordinary means who has worked hard and made decisions and sacrifices to reach the goals that I am most passionate about. Why not you? Whatever it is that you are passionate about – pursue it. Whether it’s to get a certain job, or to go to college, or to travel the world…do it. You want to go to college? Why can’t you? Get scholarships. Take out loans. Apply for grants. Go part-time. Take online classes. You don’t have an excuse. The only thing stopping you is YOU. You want to travel the world? Why can’t you? Save some money, sell your stuff, and go. You can travel the world permanently if you want to. There are places all over the world who will give your room and board in exchange for a hard day’s work. There is tons of information online about how to travel with kids, how to make money while you travel, how to travel for free, etc. You don’t have an excuse. The only thing stopping you is YOU. It will be risky. It will be hard. But it will be worth it.
Some dreams may unfold quickly and others will take time. But if it’s truly important to you, then you will be willing to do what it takes to make it happen. If you don’t like hard work or sacrifices, then achieving dreams isn’t for you. (Sorry not sorry.) But if you’re serious about achieving whatever it is that’s calling to you…stop complaining, stop making excuses, and go for the big out. Dreams don’t work unless you do.
What do you want? Right now, more than anything, what is it that you want? What drives you? What motivates you? What dream sets your soul on fire? Whatever it is…go get it. Stop thinking about why you can’t and start thinking about how you can. Stop making excuses. Start making progress.
I thought when I finished college, I’d never play softball again. But when I realized the fire in me hadn’t died – I did everything I could to find a way to play again. I did research. I sent e-mails. I called people. I did everything in my power to figure out how I could play again. And then the opportunity presented itself. When it did, I had to make choices. I had to do what a lot of people would call irresponsible. I quit my teaching job, put my stuff in storage, and moved to a new country within a month. It would have been easy to stay – to keep teaching and coaching – to stay comfortable and safe. What I was doing was risky. But with high risk comes high reward. I moved to Canada and got to play ball again with a group of girls who made me love the game even more than I already did. I’ve met amazing people from around the world and cultivated relationships that will last a lifetime.
From there I decided I had a new dream. I wanted to play professionally and I wanted to travel the world. So I did. Because…well…who said I couldn’t? I called. I e-mailed. I messaged. I hounded until I got names and contact information of people who could help me. No body walked up to me and said, “Here’s your ticket to Europe.” I went out and got it. Once again, I packed my life up and moved to a new country to play softball. It was risky. It was hard. Just as I had settled into a new life with new friends, a boyfriend, and a team – I left again. But it was worth it. I was able to get paid to play the game I love. I was able to backpack Europe and see and experiences things I never thought I would get to all because I decided to take the risk - to go for the big out.
I lived and continue to live ‘the dream’ of traveling the world. People tell me I’m lucky. I’m not lucky. I just work hard. I am not extraordinary. I am an ordinary person, with ordinary means who has worked hard and made decisions and sacrifices to reach the goals that I am most passionate about. Why not you? Whatever it is that you are passionate about – pursue it. Whether it’s to get a certain job, or to go to college, or to travel the world…do it. You want to go to college? Why can’t you? Get scholarships. Take out loans. Apply for grants. Go part-time. Take online classes. You don’t have an excuse. The only thing stopping you is YOU. You want to travel the world? Why can’t you? Save some money, sell your stuff, and go. You can travel the world permanently if you want to. There are places all over the world who will give your room and board in exchange for a hard day’s work. There is tons of information online about how to travel with kids, how to make money while you travel, how to travel for free, etc. You don’t have an excuse. The only thing stopping you is YOU. It will be risky. It will be hard. But it will be worth it.
Some dreams may unfold quickly and others will take time. But if it’s truly important to you, then you will be willing to do what it takes to make it happen. If you don’t like hard work or sacrifices, then achieving dreams isn’t for you. (Sorry not sorry.) But if you’re serious about achieving whatever it is that’s calling to you…stop complaining, stop making excuses, and go for the big out. Dreams don’t work unless you do.
Like this article? Click on the Facebook or Twitter icons below to share this article on social media.