By Coach Jonathan Massey
Choices, everyone’s life is full of them. Some of them will be easy, some will be challenging, and some of them will end up being the most difficult choices we are faced with. Choices that feel like, we don’t have a choice at all.
But you always have a choice.
This statement has become even more evident to me during the first week of May. On May 1st, my world shattered. My dad suddenly and unexpectedly passed away. That week was the hardest week of my life. I use the world hardest intentionally, because most people would have considered this one of the worst weeks of their lives, and understandably so.
Obviously, I could not change the circumstances that I had to face that week. As much as I would give anything to bring him back or give me more time with him, it was an impossible hope. But I could however, choose how it affected me.
I chose to remember all the traits that my Dad passed along to me, like his insatiable desire to learn. It didn’t matter the subject; sports, business, politics or something else that intrigued him. If Dad was passionate about it, he wanted to learn as much as he could about it. He wanted to know everything possible about it. He loved the idea of learning. He would become an expert in the field through learning. This is a trait that I got from him. This is the reason I am so drawn to the Ranch. I got Dad’s love to learn trait, and the Ranch provides me with so many opportunities to learn about the things I am most passionate about.
I chose to remember all the life lessons that my father taught me, teaching them mostly through baseball. When I was nine or ten years old, I was scared of the baseball. He decided to put my heels against the fence and hit ground balls at me. With nowhere to back away to, I was forced to face the ball and field it. At the time, I may not have liked this lesson, but I eventually got over my fear and have never been scared since. To me, that’s what life is about. Not letting fear control you and keep you from doing what you love. That is one of the most important life lessons Dad taught me.
Much like Michael Jordan coming out his room after being cut, I had to consciously tell myself that I would come out of that week a better person, a rededicated man. I know this is what Dad would have wanted. I would take all of the life lessons and traits he gave me and reapply them to my life
Life is full of curveballs that we have no control over. However, we absolutely do have control over how those situations affect us.
Therefore, if you can’t change your situation, change your outlook on it.
*I would also like to take a moment to thank the Ranch community for their tremendous support for my family and me during this difficult time. It has meant the world to us.