Tough Love

Another piece to the puzzle of my life will come together now. Let me first start with a story to help everyone get a view into my thought process. When I was 14, I think, I was playing shortstop in a softball game. My dad was the coach, and I believe we were in a championship tournament. A line drive got hit right to my ear. I did throw the girl out, but there was a time out on the field for my dad to come and check on me. I remember my dad saying you're fine, you're staying in the game. And I was like dad I can't hear out of my ear. He looked at me, looked at the dug out and said I am not taking you out, you're fine. But dad I can't hear!! I did stay in the game and learned at an early age to play through any type of pain. Tough love, but I feel I am a better person because of it. (I am positive my siblings have similar stories!) I was thinking about this story this morning as I was running and my knee was KILLING me. I was thinking about how I have learned to keep going no matter what type of pain I may be in. You pick yourself up, don't complain (still working on that part) and finish what you have started. My dad taught me that I can do anything, no matter how hard or how difficult it may seem. It is very easy in life to come up with excuses not to finish the race or to come out of the game. Everything won't be perfect. You may not hear for awhile, your knee might hurt, or your life may not turn out how you imagine, but there is no one else who can finish the game, a race, or life but you.