It’s No Coincidence

When it comes time to accept an award, whether it be an ESPY, an OSCAR, or the Gatorade Player of the Year, it can be hard to take a step back and thank the right people. When you look out to the crowd, their eyes become mirrors and all you begin to see is yourself.

At this very moment you start to think about all the hard work and effort that you put into becoming the very best at what you were designed to be. You remember the hours you spent perfecting your craft and the sacrifices that were made. Real change usually happens as a result of an uncomfortable, even painful situation.

By this I don’t mean the muscle aches and soreness, rejection letters, or the lost opportunities along the way. I am talking about the opportunity you have right in front of you, the chance to get real in front of those that only see YOU.

I had this opportunity to be REAL with my creator and those who supported me along the way many times. I failed to recognize the opportunity I had in front of me, the chance to humble myself and give thanks for the abilities and support system I had been given.

You see, people who think they’re perfect are constantly working to prove that, to themselves and everybody else. But it takes a lot of energy to do that. At the end of the day, I was exhausted, but I had no idea why.

It was because of this. In the process of deceiving everybody else, the person I had most successfully deceived was myself. Deep down inside, I knew I wasn’t perfect, but in order to sustain the outward appearance of my perceived perfect life, I had to master the art of deception.

I had drifted so far away from the person I was truly designed to be. Drifting happens to everyone at some point in our lives. It happens because we do not have a solid foundation and genuine relationship with who we were made to be.

It is no coincidence that those that we’ve seen stand in front of us to accept such prestigious awards, all begin their acceptance speeches like this. First, I would like

to thank ____________. Whether it be God or your higher power, whatever you decide to put there, MATTERS.

It matters because it shows that you have decided to look through the mirrors and past your own reflection. You have decided to recognize that you have had help along the way and need to give thanks to those who have put you before themselves.

This is my hope for you. That you will live a fully integrated life, deprived of pretense and masks, a life uniquely yours and uncommonly real. When this time comes, you will be free to be yourself.