Growing up there were just some things that we were expected to do: help clean the house, weed the garden, practice our instrument, and play on the community soccer team. I didn’t love to do my chores, but I did them. Practicing the piano was tolerable  so I did that. But when it came to sports, I wasn’t the least bit interested. Chasing after a ball seemed to me an absurd waste of time. But one day, when I was about 4 or 5, my mom signed me up for the soccer team – much to my dismay. (Note that she had to bribe me with a pair of jelly shoes to persuade me.) Soon our first game was scheduled. Of course at that age you don’t have soccer practice so it was literally my first time on the field. I fared alright through the first 15 minutes or so, but  about half way through the game, the ball found it’s way right into my stomach. Tears streamed down my face as I ran off the field, never to return again. That was the end of my soccer career. (Though I think I still got my jelly shoes.) 

What’s the point of this little anecdote? Reality is I don’t think I ever had any real potential to become a thriving soccer star, but I wish I hadn’t quit. There were valuable lessons  to be learned, friends to made and experiences to be had – but I missed them because when there was pain, I gave up.  I had no commitment.

Likewise, we have opportunities each day that have the potential to bring us experience, joy, and success both personally and professionally.  With those opportunities will come challenges, obstacles, and sometimes even pain. We can’t always control what cards we’re dealt, but commitment is the ingredient that makes up for the lack of good fortune or even natural ability. Commitment is being able to do what you said you were going to do when you were going to do it. Regardless of what your circumstances may be, it is this stick-to-it attitude that will bring authentic joy and success in life.

My call to you is live committed -  grabbing hold of every good opportunity that comes along and making of it what you can.  Truly commitment is the stuff that success is made of.