Looking back on some of the things I have achieved over the course of my life, I have realized that I can do anything I want as long as I want it enough. I will give you a few examples.
My freshman year of high school I watched in awe of the ASB officers as they organized events, entertained crowds, and from my perspective, ruled the school. Even as an incredibly shy freshman (I had trouble even ordering at restaurants!), I knew right then and there that I had to be an ASB officer. My Junior year the opportunity arose to run for office and I jumped at it. I wanted this for 3 years and I was going to do everything in my power to get it. I ran for ASB VP. After putting up a door decoration that took hours (basically we were given a classroom door to decorate as our campaign poster), after rehearsing my speech with everyone I know, and after days of fretting because of a forced run-off, I won. But it was not the decoration or the speech that won votes, but my actions over the previous 3 years. I was a good student, a good friend, a good member of the high school community. I was involved in a million activities and always made my commitments. I knew where I wanted to go and I knew how to get there.
My freshman year in college I joined Alpha Kappa Psi, the Professional Business Fraternity. I knew from the moment I was admitted as a full brother that I wanted to be President one day. I wanted to give back to a group of people and an organization that I already loved. I spent the next 2 years running for positions to gain experience, attending almost every single event, and really getting to know the organization from the inside out. At the end of my Sophomore year I was nominated for President. In what I remember as quite a debated race, I was unsure of whether I would win and what the clear divide would do to the chapter. I was sure of one thing though … I wanted to win and I had since the moment I became and AKPsi brother. I had put in the effort and the time. I made the connections and developed the knowledge and skill to do the job. I won the election and became President of my chapter.
My first year of law school I went to graduation and heard the student speaker (who I actually knew). I instantly became enamored with the idea of being the graduation speaker when I graduated in 2010. I thought about it my second year and wondered what I would write about, and who my competition would be. Finally in my third year, I found out that in order to be the graduation speaker you submit a written speech, and they are voted on. I had known for a while that I wanted to give the speech at graduation, but I really did not understand why until I started actually writing my speech. Words are kind of my thing and I could not think of a better way to express my love for my law school experience (the people I met more so than the knowledge that I gained although that was great too) than to reminisce with them and tell them how they have become more than classmates over the last 3 years. So when I wrote my speech I told our story. I wrote and rewrote. I solicited stories from friends and asked others to critique and edit the written version. I wanted to be the speaker and I knew if I made the speech perfect … if I made the speech exactly what it should be (a collection of everyone's stories told with heart), then I would be speaker. And I was.
I have wanted to lose weight for years. I have always been heavy and uncomfortable in my body. I have wanted to lose weight, but until recently I have not wanted it enough. Other things got in the way – school, work, having fun etc. It was consistently put on the back burner, only to be moved to the front when I had time to deal with it. This year, enough was enough. I wanted it this year, and I want it now. I will continue to lose weight until I hit my ideal body weight, because now I want it enough and I have started doing what I need to do to make it happen.
You can do anything you want as long as you want it enough. Because if you want it enough, you will do everything in your power to make it happen, and when you do everything in your power, it happens.
Wanting something enough takes gumption.
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