Inspiration in failing

In our household there are four seasons; winter, spring, summer, and football.  With three boys and a die hard football fan for a husband there really isn't a day of the week that isn't dedicated to football.

So as I sat thinking of a post for this week I caught myself listening to a game they were watching.  With as much effort as it takes to be a professional athlete I couldn't help but relate sports to writing.  For anyone who knows me, I am always comparing writing to random things - I suppose it's my coping mechanism - to remind myself that what I am attempting to do is no different than the thousands of little boys (like my twins) who dream that one day they will play in the NFL.

And just as I tell my boys, I have to tell myself, that with a lot hard work, practice, and a WHOLE lot of determination anything is possible. So that was what I went in search of today - inspirational sports stories.  I realize that there are probably hundreds, if not thousands of stories out there but I love this one.

I am not a big basketball fan, however, I have always admired Michael Jordan.  I remember watching him play in awe, I had never seen anyone jump so far and so high before!  He was one of those players that could make anyone fall in love with the sport by just watching him play.

When you think of it isn't that what every writer strives to do?  To make people fall in love with reading?  To think that something you wrote could help someone find the wonder, the mystery, the excitement in books!

But if we give up on our dreams we can never achieve that.  If we dwell on our rejections then we may never know our successes!

Below is a link to a blog of several success stories and I couldn't help but post Micheal Jordan's story.  He knows his failures - and he knows that in order to succeed, you have to fail.  You have to learn and grow from them.  

Michael Jordan: Most people wouldn't believe that a man often lauded as the best basketball player of all time was actually cut from his high school basketball team. Luckily, Jordan didn't let this setback stop him from playing the game and he has stated, "I have missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I have lost almost 300 games. On 26 occasions I have been entrusted to take the game winning shot, and I missed. I have failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed."



And in honor of Michael Jordan, I may just have to take my next book submission photo in white and red, and of course, with my tongue hanging out!