Be Inspired For You

Yup, You Sure Can!

Yesterday I had the chance to sit and listen to someone talk who has been an inspiration to millions the world over.  I won’t name any names but I will leave you to guess for yourself who it is.

Sure, he has his critics.  Everyone does.  You have yours.  I have mine.  He has his.

But that does not seem to matter to him.

You can’t.  Of course you can’t.  There’s no way he can….There were so many people that said he could not do what he set out to do.  And he said not to pay attention to the “people that say you can’t, because those are the people who never could.”

If you have a passion, and you have a dream, and someone dares to tell you that there’s no way you could ever do that…

maybe they are the ones that need to evaluate who has their priorities straight.

You can if you will…you won’t if you can’t.

He may be famous the world over…

but it has not changed him.  He’s genuine.  He’s real.  He has his faults, his quirks, he has his strengths, he’s competitive, he’s funny, he has a way of telling stories that makes everyone laugh…he has a passion for what he does…

And he said, that in the end, he wanted his legacy to be known as “someone that’s made an impact on kids’ lives.”

That’s how he wants to have an impact.  In the end, will all of the other stuff that keeps the news in a frenzy about him really matter?

No.  In the end, what matters is that some little child who was brought to a Philippine orphanage in a small cardboard box was gathered into the arms of someone who loved her, was given food to eat, a special home to live in, a chance to live life like a child should.

Before her only chance was a small cardboard box…Now opportunities for her have no limit…they soar sky high with possibilities!

He finished by saying, “You never know when you’re in your fourth quarter, when you’re in your two-minute drill, so let’s try to finish strong now.”

For a gal who had an uncle play on NFL defense …touchdown!  This really hits it home for me.

My uncle is a strong person…he’s a strong person physically, but he’s also a strong person within as well.

Recently my uncle’s brother died.

My uncle is grieving.

He spoke quieter…the twinkle in his eye was no longer there….when I last went to see him….

he was missing the brother who played alongside both him and another brother on defense and helped lead their college team  (ironically my school’s hated rivals) to the National Championship two years in a row…his brother has scores of honors to his credit…first round draft pick of Tampa Bay Bucs…six-time All Pro…NFL hall of fame…etc etc…

But to my uncle, this man is the brother stood alongside him not only on the field but off the field…he is the dearly-loved little brother who suddenly passed away…and who my uncle is missing deeply…

….but he still kindly asked me what was in the works in my life for next fall.  My uncle is such a strong person.

So is Mr. Speaker.

Whoever you may be, you can be a strong person!

And by strong I don’t mean bullying and trying to control everyone in your pathway (remember, true strength may bring about power, but power does not bring about true strength), I mean strength as in…

knowing you have weaknesses but that you are trying to do the right thing…making a difference in the lives of those around you…

being secure and satisfied in who you are…and that means being genuine, being real.   A fake person is like someone who is caked in stage makeup, you’re left wondering whose really underneath????????????

Finish strong.

By this time, some of you are probably guessing the man behind the words.

Go ahead and try!  You’re probably right.

Whether you like him or not,  no one can argue that what he said is not important to all of us.  It is!   How are we making an impact?  What if this is your two minute drill?

Was it awesome to sit there and  hear him speak, candidly, about his life, his experiences, his beliefs, his passion for what he does?  Yup, sure was!

I was inspired by his stories…his words…his life…

Make someone else in your life inspired by yours.  

M.E.

April 23, 2012 - Posted by beinspiredforyou | Inspirations | Children, Confidence, Encouragement, Failure, Football, Fourth Quarter, Helping Children, Heroes, Inspiration, Life, Making an impact, National Championship, orphanage, Quarterback, Reassurance, Relationships, Sports, Strength, Strong