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Embrace Yourself
Stop being afraid to become you. Embrace it.
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Shared Human Experiences
There is nothing new under the sun. Everything has been experienced or done before.
This helps me when dealing with life. I know that most problems or situations that I face in life, someone has already gone through them. That can give me guidance on how to deal with the situation, or even peace of mind knowing that I’m not the only one who has gone through certain problems or situations.
We are all in this together, and we can all help each other. Your situation isn’t as unique as you might think. Remember, shared experiences connect us all.
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Look Good, Play Good
The football player Deion Sanders often said, “If you look good, you feel good. If you feel good, you play good.”
That’s the mindset that I and many other athletes adopted. I always felt like I played a little better in the games when I was swagged out.
This mindset extends beyond sports, though. I can have nothing important planned for the day, but if I get dressed and look good, I, in turn, feel good, and ultimately have a better day. When you look good and feel good, and “play” well, others will begin to treat you differently as well.
Whether it’s sports or life, the pride you take in your appearance and the effort you put into feeling and performing well is often up to us. Do things that make you feel good and be more productive.
Taking care of your appearance and well-being can have a positive impact on various aspects of your life.
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Unleash Your Potential
Don’t place limits on what you can achieve, how much money you can make, or who you can become. Anything is possible. We often limit ourselves.
When you take a leap of faith and pursue a grand dream, you’ll realize it’s achievable, and you could have pursued it sooner. Sometimes, the only way to discover if something is possible is by trying it out.
Remember, the only real limits are the ones we set for ourselves. Believe in your potential and take that leap of faith towards your dreams.
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Diverse Perspectives
There’s more than one way to skin a cat. There’s more than one way to live life in general. That’s the cool part, though. We can all live life the way we want, and we can also appreciate the way others do things.
We must also understand that others may have different approaches to things in life, and sometimes you just have to respect that. You may feel like you have the most efficient way to skin a cat, but it’s not the only way.
That’s the cool thing about being an individual and having free will. Do things your way, especially if it doesn’t negatively affect others. Respect and appreciate the way others do things as well.
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Embracing Planned Productivity
They say life doesn’t always go as planned, but if you schedule and plan your day, you’ll likely be more productive than if you didn’t.
A day without planning is bound to not go as expected because you had no input. The same principle applies to our lives. Life is unpredictable, but the likelihood of certain things happening increases based on our actions.
Our actions can and should be planned. Even if not everything is planned, we should at least develop habits that will be beneficial, even on less planned days.
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Understanding Differences
We were all taught different things growing up – different morals, values, and norms have been instilled in us. You may have an interaction with a stranger that isn’t that pleasant. Maybe they weren’t as respectful as you’d expect, or maybe they did something as simple as not holding the door for you when you were about to exit a place.
Some of our bad interactions with others, we can’t hold against them. It might be how they were raised or what was or wasn’t present in their lives while growing up. Maybe they missed a few crucial lessons growing up; likewise, maybe you did too.
So be conscious of that when interacting with others. Lead by example, and hopefully, your positive characteristics can positively influence someone else.
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Golden Rule Wisdom
The Golden Rule states to treat others the way you want to be treated. It’s one of the first things we learn as kids, heavily emphasized in preschool and kindergarten.
It’s a great rule, but we must experience being treated poorly to truly understand how to treat others well. So, treat others as you would like to be treated, but don’t fret too much when others mistreat you.
They serve as a reminder of what not to do. Don’t mimic their behavior. Stay true to yourself, and your positivity will have a greater impact on others than their negativity.
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Legacy of Choices
O.J. Simpson passed away recently. Many news article titles covering his death also referenced the murder trial in which he was found not guilty 30 years ago.
Whether you believe he is innocent or guilty is a personal judgment. However, it highlights the fact that when we pass away, others will remember us based on our actions and character. Some individuals leave behind a legacy of positivity, while others are remembered for their misdeeds.
It’s crucial to safeguard our character by consistently making the right choices. Our character is not defined by a single choice, but by the series of character-defining moments throughout our lives that people recall when we are no longer here.
If you were to pass away at this moment, what would the news articles say about you? How would you be remembered? It’s essential to consider these questions and strive to leave a positive impact for others to remember.
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Life’s Physical Game
The remarkable aspect of playing collegiate and professional football is that you train hard during the off-season to prepare your mind and body to peak condition.
However, as soon as the first snap of the ball is taken in full pads during live action, you can get injured. This injury could be season-ending or a lingering issue that lasts throughout the season. Despite knowing that it’s inevitable, you still go through the process. That’s football.
The lessons learned and the confidence gained during the off-season are valuable, even with the risk of injury or pain. That’s what the off-season was getting you ready for: to be mentally and physically tough enough to play through or recover from injuries.
Life is a physical endeavor; clashes, injuries, and pain are all part of the game. Prepare for them, embrace them. By doing so, you can achieve the most crucial thing: enjoyment.
Football is enjoyable, injuries and all. Some of my fondest football memories involve sprained MCLs, bone bruises, sprained ankles, strained hamstrings, dislocated thumbs, and more. I was always prepared for them, and I always got through them. Such is life.
FLY, BLACK BOY 