ON YOUR MARKS!!!

...I had all eyes on me. I could feel the pressure in my joints and marrow. The heat in my tendons. It felt like I was going to pee. My nerves were all over me. Nothing else matter at that moment but the prize - the gold. I had screams of my name in ones and twos. As soon as the announcer began calling out names, the sound of mine received the shallowest of cheers. Apparently, no one knew anything about me or what I could do. I was not discouraged though. I looked to my right, I saw the gold medal on the steel table. I looked at my counterparts, they too had their eyes on it. The environment looked perfect. It was the State's Finals. Winner of which would represent the country at the World Youth Olympics. I could not look down. The heat was about to begin. No space for thoughts... it was down to who wanted it the most. We all came to our knees when we heard... "ON YOUR MARKS!"

While I am not too much of a fan when it comes to track and field events, I particularly take interest in 100m heat finals. It's perhaps the most exciting of heats at such events. Everyone is interested to know the latest world's fastest. What I often notice is the pressure on the runners; the intense feeling of uneasiness in the mind of the athletes. The question is, do all the athletes feel this way? I came to the understanding that champions are always confident. They know what they are in for. Their sights for the goal is like that of the eagle on its prey - fixed & unwavering. 

Have you started taking your sights off your dream? Are you beginning to lose confidence in yourself because your competitors looked like they are better than you? Have you already given up hope on that application because the statistics of intake last year excluded people of your pedigree or background? Maybe you have started to waver since you don't have so many people backing you or believing in your ability to make it? Peradventure you have decided to sit still because no one even knew you could brace up to the challenge?

Have your eyes set on the goal. Stick your neck out! Get your head up! Set your eyes on the prize! The RACE for your Dream is on! ON YOUR MARKS! The fact is many do not even know the race is on so, they are not on their marks yet. Take a look at the picture up there. What do you see? The Athlete on her mark, with her head up and her eyes fixed on the finish line. Verily verily I say unto you, except you have your eyes on the goal, it'd be too far to attain. Until you began seeing your dream is achievable, it's soon gone. Unless you begin to believe in your potentials, abilities and capability, impossibilities would hold the same label in your life. Take a look at quote that came through my mind while preparing for this post through the week:

"Behold the turtle. He only makes progress when he sticks his neck out" ~ James Bryant Conant

Stick your neck out. Always look for opportunities to keep moving. Stopping or waiting on the sidelines should not be an option. You were made for the winning team not for the reserve bench.

"Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadow" ~ Helen Keller

Set your eyes on your goal; on your dreams; on the prize. Don't you even think you can't do it because it's then you'd lose what you've got in you to do it. Just do it!

"To expect defeat is nine-tenths of defeat itself" ~ Francis Marion Crawford

Absolutely, it's what you expect that you'd get. As you think in your heart, so are you. If you think you are a loser, you are sure one of the fold. If you are think you are the best, you sure have it coming for you.

The RACE for your dream job is on. The RACE for your dream home is here. The RACE for your dream career is set. The heat for your highly esteemed goal is on - ON YOUR MARKS!

Thanks for reading once again. I hope you have been inspired.

- Le Dynamique Professeur