Push Through Adversity

​Three weeks ago, was the first day on skis for our youngest child, Macie, who is 3 years old. Stepping into big clunky ski boots and trying to ride down a snow mountain on two boards under your feet for the first time can be awkward and intimidating to anyone let alone a 3-year-old. I was a bit nervous as I was taking her to her ski school. Perhaps my feelings were amplified by the blizzard conditions outside. The visibility wasn’t great, and it was cold. Kids in her class were crying out one by one until Macie was the last one standing with her coach to start the class. I thought that this could go okay, or it could be bad. Macie took the magic carpet up, skied down with her coach with me waiting at the bottom. When she reached the bottom, the first words out of her mouth were “let’s do it again, daddy!” Music to my ears!

​This proud pappa moment was an important reminder that no matter how challenging the conditions might be, we can typically get through them with the right attitude.

I heard a great quote from George Kittle, Tight End for the San Francisco 49ers, who answered questions to the press after their incredible comeback win over the Detroit Lions in the NFC Championship game. When asked how they managed to overcome such a horrific first half, he said “In every opportunity you have, and, in every circumstance, you have a choice. Am I going to back down or am I going to do something about it. That is the really cool thing about football and life. No matter what is going on, I have the choice to play at my best.”

I would venture to guess that we have all had to overcome major challenges in our lives. You might be trying to overcome one right now. The good news is that in every challenging situation, you have the choice on how you want to respond to it, and more importantly, what you want to do about it. You can get stressed out, take it out on your loved ones, let your mental and physical health suffer, and even give up. You could also breathe, relax, focus, smile, and play at your best to get through it.

Life is simply too short to let the constant challenges we face get the better of us. Raising two toddlers has taught me that. It has been an incredible learning experience for me to find ways to overcome stress, put things in perspective, and smile. I can't say that I do this every time, but I am getting much better at it.

Watching Macie ski for three hours in the cold snowy conditions on her first day and smiling throughout was a breath of fresh air for me. I am sure she would take a sunny day over a blizzard any time, however her excitement to ski enabled her to push through the adverse conditions.

Sometimes, it takes a 3-year-old to remind us that if something is important enough, having the right attitude will get us through any related challenges along the way.