What a week! Perhaps it is too early for exhaustion (it’s only Tuesday), but my wife is at Girl’s Camp for three more days. She has really worked hard to make this camp a great experience for all the young women and leaders in the area, and her influence has been felt throughout, especially at home.
I could feel overwhelmed. It’s a naturally occurring emotion given the surprises that come with seemingly regularity. I realize that I am not unique. We have much in common. All of us are faced with challenges that take our breath away, but we fortunately do not have to face hardships alone. Our immediate families and friends can provide support and encouragement. Getting out there and facing obstacles is much easier with a support team. It’s a lot like playing football. Each position has a role and each person does his best to fulfill their responsibility. Sometimes that is enough, and other times it’s not. But when players return to the huddle, they build each other up and celebrate the successes.
“Great move down there. You made it an extra couple yards.”
“We are having trouble giving the quarterback more time, so let’s bring another defender on the blind side.”
“We can do it!”
So we make adjustments and together deal with the consequences. And when the game isn’t going our way, we still build our teammates, and frequently amazing things happen. I am not saying that we can expect to always emerge victorious, but it depends on the objective of the game. If it’s having fun, doing our best, and pulling together to overcome challenges as a team, we can. Besides, quality of character is usually built during the tough times, and that’s when working together as a team really matters. Sometimes our squad has more points on the scoreboard when we leave the field, and other times we don’t. But either way, if we do our best and enjoy coming together as a team, we are successful. That’s what we tell our children when they play soccer or baseball or compete in some other sporting event. Do we mean it? I think so. Good sportsmanship, good intentions, consistent effort, and dedication make us winners on and off the field, and interestingly these same qualities apply to our lives.
Becoming the person we want to be takes time, effort, and dedication. The same is true for overcoming life’s obstacles. But it is definitely better going through challenges with a team. What we will remember are the times we lifted the downtrodden, occasions when we showed mercy to the helpless, and instances where we forgave others. We all share similar desires and seek happiness. When the intents of our hearts are good and right, our power to overcome prevails though we face obstacles along the way.
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These life strategies will help us focus on what is really important. And that’s not a concession; it’s a realization. What really matters is our intent anyway, especially when things don’t always go the way we want or at least what we think we want. Because Someone far wiser than us is control.
Good intentions are something, and for now, that’s enough.
Rally your team frequently. Build each other up and find the positives in hardship. Watch others and rejoice in their success. And learn from those we admire and have wisdom to share. We are not alone, and what we do has meaning.
For me, that is a good reminder and empowering.
In 1989, Walter Penning formed a consultancy based in Salt Lake City and empowered his clients by streamlining processes and building a loyal, lifetime customer base with great customer service. His true passion is found in his family. He says the best decision he ever made was to marry his sweetheart and have children. The wonderful family she has given him and her constant love, support, and patience amid life's challenges is his panacea.
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