Opposition



"Success is not measured by

what you accomplish, but by the

opposition you have encountered,

 and the courage with which you

have maintained the struggle

 against overwhelming odds."

-Orison Swett Marden

They say that "there is opposition in all things." Well, whoever they is, I have found to be absolutely correct.  When I analyze what the word "opposition" means to my life specifically, my mind goes back to my high school athletic career. 

Athletics was my priority.  It was how I identified myself (something I wish I could go back and tell myself not to do.)  I played volleyball every Fall, ran track every spring, and filled the winter with club volleyball or indoor track and field. 

So what specifically does this have to do with opposition?  The better question is, where was there not opposition during my athletic career?  To begin with, I am not built for athletics.  I'm small, and anything but strong inside and out.  My ligaments in my shoulders, knees, and hips are too loose as well as double-jointed. There was not a track season I did not tear or strain my hamstring.  I never played a season of volleyball where I did not visit the chiropractor once a week for my back and shoulder.                                

                                                                                

 Not only do I struggle to maintain my health physically, I often allowed the stress of whatever season I was in, to weigh heavily on my mental health.  I am my biggest critic, and therefore, constantly caused myself undo stress from the pressure I felt to perform.  my 100 percent was never good enough in my own eyes.  I never ran fast enough, jumped far enough, or hit hard enough.  Because of that fact I never allowed myself to feel good enough. It was all in my head

< notice the taping of my hamstring, and the nervous way I'm holding my stomach

So what did I learn from this?  I'm still learning it.  What I do know is yes, there is opposition in all things, but it should never hinder you or how you feel about yourself.  I still suffer from effects of those injuries, and I still struggle with accepting my very best.  But what I do know is that I'm working on it.  I am no longer my greatest opposition