I'm trying to remember why I thought of this story, and I can't recall! This is a story from high school.

Shirts vs. Skins
It was freshman year. Our P.E. Coach, Coach Mingo, decided to have a basketball game. Only guys. Shirts versus Skins. That means one team wears their shirts, the other takes them off! The gals just got to watch, cheerlead, whatever. At the time, I weighed around 210 lbs. I was very self conscious about my appearance. I had male boobs anxiety. Of course, I was on the Skins Team. It was excruciating taking my shirt off!

As I was overwhelmed by my flabby chest and belly bouncing up and down the court (it was a full court game), we went down 7-0. The contest was to get to 10 points, one point a basket. Up to that point, no one had said anything about my physical appearance. It was just something in my head. Then someone said something. I can't remember what it was. But it set me off.

Thanks Pops
My dad loved basketball. He had a basketball goal set up in our driveway, and I spent many, many afternoons, mornings and evenings honing my craft. Both by myself and in competition with friends.

Whatever that opponent said during that game, he said it to try to make me feel like a lesser person, to demean me. It had the opposite effect. I scored the next 10 points. Game over.

I tell this story for anyone who doesn't feel up to the task, whatever that task may be. Who knows? You might not be up to the task. You might fail. Probably will. But you must, you must, be willing to give it your best effort. And you've got to find that motivation wherever you can.

Despite conventional wisdom, I believe success is irrelevant. Except, of course, when it comes time to telling stories! :) It is the effort. Make sure you want it, then give it your best shot. And never underestimate the power of emotion!

:)

TG