Bring your SWORD

When you transition in life it is imperative that you keep with you all the tools that you have collected along the way. They are your weapons. They help defend you, prepare you for the unexpected, and provide comfort. No two tools provide the same protections, but a set of tools together can provide you all the protection needed to sail through this thing called life.

For my daughter, who didn't even see it sitting in her room when she moved into her college dorm that first day of college. Hiding in plain site, but invisible to the naked eye and only to be seen as she packed up that final box during move out.

When you leave college, take your sword with you. For the past 4 years, for some more, you have been handed your lifes plan. It has been built in the way of class schedules, sports schedules, gym schedules, and even your cafeteria schedules forcing you to plan out even nutrition! The few moments you have between those schedules you have also been surrounded by a small village of people. They have laughed with you. Cried with you. Existing with you for most of your moments in a day in a rather small space.

Some will travel far, some with stay close, and other may still not even know where they are headed, but when you leave this space your world will, in fact, be very different.

It was on your first day of this college adventure that you were handed a sword. You didn't know it, you couldn't hold it or even see it with your eyes, but it was there for you and provided you with protections you didn't even know you would need. Take the sword with you. Use it. Guard it. It will continue to protect you and make you strong through all of your lifes' adventures.

Your entire being, for as long as you can remember (and for some even longer than that) has been built with a structure. A foundation that was always consistent, rarely wavered, and provided a base for your days. This is your first tool. Structure. Where ever you land and whatever you do, put your structure in place. What does that look like? It can look different for everyone, but start with the basics - a calendar. Schedule your workouts, your meal prep, your work time, and hell even schedule out time for self care (this may be the most important thing to schedule since for alot of us, this one becomes the easiest one to chop off the schedule if we need time back.)

Whatever structure looks like for you is OK - but be sure to build it out and prioritize it. It is your foundation, no right or wrong way, but without a foundation there is little to build on.

I probably wouldn't be able to count the number of times our family has said "is this even worth it?" or someone has uttered "I feel worthless" "Am I even good enough?". Yes, you are worth it, yes it is worth it, and every one of these moments have held their own value in your journey. Some more valuable than others. Some just learning moments that hold a place in confirming something you never want to do again. Each of these moments has built you into who you are and continues to increase your overall worth in this world. The next tool in your toolbox is worth. Always know it, embrace it, and know that you will have a love and hate battle with this throughout your entire life. Even on the hard days you must hold your worth strong and realize it's value in the bigger picture. Don't ever let anyone make you question who you are, what you bring to the table, and what your worth is. There will be plenty that question it along the way, but don't ever let them make you question yourself. As Mel Robbins would say "Let Them!". Let them not see me as worth, but let me continue to search for the right opportunities where I am valued.

How many times have you gotten to a game or practice to find you had forgotten something. The athletic tape, a hairband, your jock strap, probably even a pair of socks or the practice jersey. Whatever it is that is missing, it most likely sent you into a little spiral first wondering where it is, then why isn't it where I thought it was, and then finally realizing that you took it out of your bag to wash it and forgot to put it back. Trust me, this happens to even the best athletes. That spiral is triggered because you have become accustomed to being organized. Your third tool.

You have had years to figure out where and what you need to be 110%. That isn't just for your sport - that will hold true forever. Knowing what you need, what works, what doesn't will all be important factors to ensure that you are at 110% at all times. Simple organization tricks can make or break you in an instant.

Your world has been organized by all the different puzzle pieces fitting together. You had roommates to help you wake up on time and help you study for tests. You had practice and game schedules laid out so you knew what your weeks looked like months in advance, and you had a team barking at you if you were late because they had to do extra laps. Even without all the consequences - organization is going to be a key component in your life. Creating that structure is the first step, but organization takes it one step further. Be so organized that you clean and put your coffee cup in the same place so that every morning you can quickly get your coffee without having to find a clean cup. Lay out your clothes for the next day, or even the week organizing your drawers so that you know exactly where shirts and pants live for the easy, too late to think days. Set your work bag by the door so when you hit snooze 30 times and wake up with only 10 minutes to spare - your bag is just ready to grab it and go. You spent 4 years carrying a shower caddy, partly to protect your products, but the other part was the make sure that you had what you needed for your shower time since you were one of a few people that had to shower in a short period of time - keep the shower caddy - it will make sure you have what you need, but it will also give you a bit of a smile thinking about that small nasty dorm shower, and all the fun you had.

I have yet to know an athlete that isn't 99% rigor (and 1% wild). Your next tool.

It's the rigor that has kept you on point, the rigor that kept you on task with the sore muscles, puffy eyes, and knee problems that you battled through each season. It's the rigor that got you from day to day, and that same rigor you should keep with you every day going forward. Some will find their dram jobs right away and others may have a few "fine I'll take it cause I need money" jobs. Apply the same rigor to all the jobs. You have accomplished all that you have accomplished in big part because of your rigor. Your ability to be disciplined. It's what helps you make good choices, and walk away feeling good about what you have accomplished.

Last, but certainly not least, continue to be determined. You got where you got because you were determined to make that happen. Determined to play that sport at that college. Determined to work for that degree. Whether its determination to find a job, determination to move out of mom & dads basement, or determination to meal prep every sunday so you continue your good eating habits and live on a budget, this trait is so much more valuable than we sometimes give it credit for.

Determination is a great motivator. It keeps us striving for things that feel out of reach in that moment and it will continue to help you dream big and accomplish big things in your life.

As you wrap up this last year, spend your last moments, and pack up your last 4 years - don't forget to pack your sword. You will need it, sometimes when you least expect it.

Structure

Worth

Organization

Rigor

Determination