Everyone has something

One Tuesday, as a lesson with the boys in grades 6 – 7 ended, circumstances forced me to deliver a serious monologue. Everyone has something they need to take responsibility for. For some reason, one young athlete who usually sets a fairly good example has started dodging competitions this year. When I’m putting the team list together, he promises to compete, but when it’s time to go, he either fails to turn up or is nowhere to be found.

The lesson was over, and the boys were already lined up for dismissal when I asked what was going on. No, I wasn’t even telling him off, although there really was no reasonable explanation for ducking out. Instead, I was trying to get these young men to think about why you don’t behave like that and how doing so actually works against you.

Everyone has something…

We all have something that makes us special. Everyone has a skill or quality that others wish they had too. Some can play an instrument, some are known for their sporting ability, some simply do well at school, some have a great sense of humor and tell good jokes, some are incredibly helpful, some are good at fixing cars, and so on. What makes you special doesn’t go unnoticed, and quite often, people value you highly for that behavior, skill or quality.

My message is this: hold on to that special “something” you know people value and respect you for. You may not always even realize the standing it has given you. Identify your strength, then preserve it, protect it and keep developing it. In many cases, it may not even be anything major, just a small detail, but that can be enough to earn people’s respect.

Why does it matter?

We all like to be different in some way, to stand out, to receive praise or attention. Being special almost always brings attention, makes people notice you and earns you recognition. Anyone who says they “don’t like it” is lying, because the need for recognition is encoded in our genotype, whether we like it or not.

So hold on to whatever has earned you positive attention and recognition. Don’t throw it away for nothing. Let’s keep developing what makes us special and use it to become even more visible, even stronger. Make it your trump card and your calling card. And if you feel you really have nothing that could give you an advantage over others, give it everything you’ve got to find your own “Nokia”.

Of course, I’m talking primarily about sport here. I’ve seen young men train consistently for quite a few years, reach a certain level and earn respect and recognition as a result, only to suddenly disappear from the gym almost overnight. Or they start throwing away their hard-earned standing at weekend parties. It’s sad to watch.

If you’re into training, keep at it. If you’re a musician, keep at it. If you’re into computers, keep at it. If volleyball is the only thing you’re good at, give it everything you’ve got. If history and quizzes interest you, keep developing your abilities and look for opportunities to expand your knowledge and put it to the test. If you enjoy building things, gardening and working on your home, don’t be shy about showing it. If you’re good at drawing, try to get even better and don’t hide your talent. If you do well at school, don’t sacrifice your grades for wild weekends of partying…

Hold on to what you have, keep developing it and let it make you visible. You can always learn new things as well, but don’t give up something that has served you well and, in a way, become a positive part of how people see you.

Author: Janar Rückenberg

Source:Turg.Fitness.ee

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