Tag Archives: personal-development

Trust intention.

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“To accomplish anything worthwhile, you must pay the price; and the price is always work, patience, love, self-sacrifice.”

― John Burroughs

Nothing in life that is worthwhile will come easy. 

You have to work for those things that you truly want. Yet work cannot be narrowly defined as only an effort in a physical sense. Duty. Routine. Assignment. Work is also more so a mental, emotional and spiritual endeavor as well. 

Achievement, excellence and success is never a matter of destiny, fate, timing or being in the right place at the right time. For that would mean that we live by chance and what is given rather than being guided by intention. To live solely by chance would negate the value and virtue of your effort and commitment. Your perseverance and sacrifice. And ultimately, your purpose. 

In order to “be” or “become” – you first need to intend to “be” or “become”. 

To be purposeful in your thoughts, words and deeds. To live with intention – and intentionally – is to be guided by purpose. There will always be a price to pay if you live with intention if you are purposeful in all that you do. You will have to “give up” and “surrender” in order  to “go up” and become “victorious”. You will need to leave some – or maybe all of who and what you “are” behind  – in order to get to where you want to go and who you wish to be. 

To be what and who you want to become requires sacrifice. 

And this is never an  easy proposition. 

Rest assured that the suffering you inevitably encounter along the way – whether physical, mental, emotional or spiritual in nature – will only be temporary. You are simply giving up comfort for the moment, familiarity of the circumstance and the certain in your mind  in order to press ahead, grow and become what you were intended to be. 

When you pay the price, you are “trading up”.

And after all, wasn’t that always your intention?

Fields meant to be pursued. 

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Within the framework of the game was an especially compelling element. One that genuinely permeated to my very core:  

A passion for what it demanded of and from you, only to return it in a higher form. 

True, it did extract from you. Often to the point of emptiness. But at the same token,  it replenished you, on a deeply personal, emotional, mental and spiritual level.  You see, being on the field gave back ten fold of what it took, in an unparalleled manner. 

Yes, it was a game. But it proved to be so much more than that. Each opportunity granted, lesson learned and affirmation supplied possessed a gravity all their own. 

Like becoming one who gladly accepts the weight of a moment being granted. 

Shunning the spotlight. 

Leaving it all out there for those on your left or right. 

Embracing your failure in the instant  before as impetus for your success in that  yet to come.  

Valuing a level of perseverance garnered by enduring exhaustingly hard and painful work.  

Appreciating your role as one who paves the way so that others might succeed.

As time passed, I became increasingly aware of these and many more of the gifts granted during those precious moments on the field. They  became more apparent as they weaved themselves into the fabric of a life away from it.  Confirming the veracity of their mass in most substantial and lasting fashions. 

Such as accepting and engaging the weight of every responsibility in all manner and form, arriving on their time, yet touching every aspect of your being.  

Discovering the value of humility through promoting others. 

Freely giving of oneself without any expectation or desire of return. 

Knowing that there is much to be learned in defeat – whether personal or professional – and that  your response to that event  will eventually lead you back to the outcome you desire; victory. 

Mustering oneself to embrace personal sacrifice and persevere, regardless of the cost, to improve, grow and become what you are meant to be. 

Providing empathy, care, attention and love that will ensure the safety, security and success of those all around.

It has been said that football is the game of life.  A statement of fact to which many will attest.  

It is taught in numerous, lasting and most compelling fashions – particularly at my spot on the field.  Lessons that continue to emerge from that original classroom, bound to its core curriculum, taught on a field that is now being professed in the home, at work, in the community and throughout the surrounding world.  

As a passion for what is demanded of and from you, so as to return it in a higher form. 

Fields meant to be pursued.