Have you ever heard of Jesse Owens,
the great African American athlete who
set his first junior world record when
he was still in high school?
This man is one of the greatest
sports figures of all times. While
still a student in university, he
smashed three world records in one hour!
But he is best known for making a
fool of Hitler and his nazi friends
during the 1936 Olympics. His talent,
physical aptitude, and strength of
character allowed him to establish
three Olympic records and win four gold
medals.
Do you feel you are incapable of
performing such exploits? You may be
right, but things may also not be what
you believe. Although Jesse Owens had
an athlete's body, he also understood
what differentiates winners from losers.
He wrote this in his memoirs: "One
day or another every athlete feels like
taking it easy. He stops trying to
exceed his limits, and thinks he can
keep winning because of his lucky star,
or the bad luck of his opponents. You
must overcome this negative instinct,
which affects all of us, and which is
the only difference between the person
who wins a race, and those who lose.
This is the battle you have to fight
every day of your life."
________________
Do you still think you are that
different from an athlete?
You probably don't have the physical
strength and the training to be able to
run 100 meters in less than 10 seconds.
But, like every human being, you do
have a character that you can develop.
Persevarance is just like a muscle!
An athlete never looks for excuses.
Instead, he or she concentrates on the
goal to be attained.
(c)2006, www.positive-club.com
