Celebrate Every Victory

Oct. 1, 2015

CELEBRATE EVERY VICTORY

Often times as athletes, we never feel like good is good enough. I’ve seen many competitors, including myself, strive to reach perfection. While there is value in that thought process, the one problem with that goal is that perfection only exists in our minds and its definition is constantly shifting.

We always want one more mile, one more set, one more rep, one more lap, one more shot…but how about all of the miles, sets, reps, laps, and shots we’ve already done or taken?

What about all of the things we’ve already done to get to where we are now?

Growing up and always being involved in sports, primarily cross country and basketball, I have had the honor to play and compete with high intensity athletes who are always trying to become better than they were the day prior.

For me, this was a blessing—it helped push me as well. However, it also comes with a price—we forget about all the wonderful things we’ve done already, often discounting our progress thus far.

I see it in my sport and all throughout my team—it’s easy to discount what we do because of how strenuous our standard output is.

 Thinking back to just one year ago, I get discouraged thinking how I am still so far from where I want to be or even from where I used to be. Right now, it’s a feat for me to run for 10 minutes straight, while a year ago, I was running 14 miles at a time.

Under the circumstances I am in and the injury I am dealing with, I often forget to celebrate the tiniest victories. I find I need to stop and remind myself that although tiny, they are still victories.

Running another minute further than I did a week ago is something to celebrate. Running one more rep of an interval is still something to smile about…it’s further than where I was a few days before it.

I think that this mindset need not only apply to injured athletes, but even those competing at the highest level they have ever been.

While the “average” daily distance for cross country can range anywhere from 5-15 miles, we sometimes put ourselves down if we run “shorter distances” or we are “not as fast” as we wanted to be that day.

To us, three miles may seem like nothing, but in reality, we have to remind ourselves how much our body is doing for us day in and day out. As for me, it’s easy to compare where I was a year ago and how I’m doing not even 25 percent of what I used to be doing.

Circumstances have changed though and comparison can be the thief of joy.

While we may not be where we want to be yet in terms of goals, accomplishments, endurance, skill, or any other concept in the athletics world, we must find a balance between motivation to improve and appreciation for all we have done to get here.

I have to think to myself that while it may not seem like it, I am one step closer than where I was the day before.

It’s easy to forget about all we’ve done in the present moment because we think of where we want to be; but next time when you’re feeling discouraged, upset, frustrated, a little hopeless, or just all around down about “progress,” remember that progress is not linear. Sometimes there’s nothing wrong with taking a step back to take two more forward.

This is something that applies to all of us: myself, my team, myself, and all the other athletes here at Seton Hall striving to represent the university to the best of their ability.

Celebrate every victory, no matter how tiny it may seem.

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Seton Hall University Athletics

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