Have you ever heard of Jesse Owens, the great African American athlete who set his first junior world record when he was still in high school? This man is one of the greatest sports figures of all times. While still a student in university, he smashed three world records in one hour!
But he is best known for making a fool of Hitler and his nazi friends during the 1936 Olympics. His talent, physical aptitude, and strength of character allowed him to establish three Olympic records and win four gold medals.
Do you feel you are incapable of performing such exploits? You may be right, but things may also not be what you believe. Although Jesse Owens had an athlete's body, he also understood what differentiates winners from losers.
He wrote this in his memoirs: "One day or another every athlete feels like taking it easy. He stops trying to exceed his limits, and thinks he can keep winning because of his lucky star, or the bad luck of his opponents. You must overcome this negative instinct, which affects all of us, and which is the only difference between the person who wins a race, and those who lose. This is the battle you have to fight every day of your life."
Do you still think you are that different from an athlete?
You probably don't have the physical strength and the training to be able to run 100 meters in less than 10 seconds. But, like every human being, you do have a character that you can develop. Persevarance is just like a muscle!
An athlete never looks for excuses. Instead, he or she concentrates on the goal to be attained.
(c)2006, www.positive-club.com
"Not getting what you want either means you don't want it enough, or you have been dealing too long with the price you have to pay." -Rudyard Kipling
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