I was told that I would be lucky to run again when I got older after blowing out my knee playing football in high school. I was told that I couldn’t join the military because of the scars on my knees right after high school. I was told I was too shy to be good at sales. I was told I couldn’t make any money in the industry I was pursuing. I was told I needed to return to college because I was too young to be in the marketplace. I was told that I would go out of business several years ago. I was told that my success would be limited because I am black and a college dropout. I was told that I needed to get a job when I had more bills at the end of the month than I had money. I can go on about what someone else told me over the years.
The truth is….those things secretly hurt my feelings. Hearing those things from people who truly love you was very difficult for me. I channeled those feelings into motivation to prove them wrong.
Because I knew internally what I could do, I didn’t let those things stop me. I knew those people loved me and were giving me the best advice they knew to give me. I didn’t get where I am today because of luck. I am where I am today because I’m doing the things that many don’t want to and don’t feel like doing.
This morning, I was rounding mile 3 on the treadmill. I shut the TV off and told myself it was between me and you. I wasn’t going to allow my mind to drown the pain out through watching the TV. I wanted to focus and feel the pain and then persevere through it. Why…? Because life is full of pain, and I don’t want to be caught off guard by it. When pain comes, I want to be able to keep a level head to make wise decisions. I prepare myself for life to the best of my ability to live life to the fullest in all circumstances.
I know I’m misunderstood by many, but I understand myself very well. Keep grinding, keep going, don’t give up, and get better.
