During my JC days, I joined the Track & Field team purely out to experience something new. Having a good sense of my incredible hulk physique then, I knew that I could never make it to the Track events, so I rather be smart and opted for the Field events instead. I tried my hands at shot put, discus and javelin, but I still love discus the best. It's just so cool to see the discus slice through the air and soaring the distance.
Honestly, I wasn't a natural talent at discus throwing. During the first two weeks tumbled through the air like a rubber chicken. It was only two weeks later that I first saw my discus glide out of the cage landing at 10 metres. My coach came over to congratulate, "Well done! Now it's time to change to the guy's discus. You've always been using the girl's one for training!"
Training was really tough. I left each training with sore arms and back, and with blisters on my finger tips from gripping the discus. I really felt like giving up then, somehow all these pain wasn't really worth it. Maybe I should just go back to playing recreational soccer which I am comfortable with.
But something in my mind told me that I shouldn't quit. I'm not a quitter! Gritting my teeth, I stayed on and persevered through every training session. I also figured that I wasn't going to improve on my distance if I only trained twice a week. So I decided to do my own extra training daily after school for 2 hours. By then, I was so used to the blisters on my finger that they got harden. I was so used to pain and aches that I grew numb to them as well. But I never once complained nor had any thoughts about giving up again. Toying myself with complains only made me lose focus and tired mentally easily.
After 6 months of such intensive training, the grand payoff came when I took part in the school's annual sports meet and subsequently the National Schools' Track & Field competition. I came in 3rd for the school's sports meet and nearly made it to the second round in the Nationals. Both event my discus recorded a personal best of about 39 meters! Hey.. not bad for someone who only took up the sport less than a year!
Are you going through a particularly tough season in your life right now where you just feel like giving up? Are there emotional pains that you have suffered which cuts so deep that I just don't want to give and serve anymore?
My encouragement for you is to take this as a training season for your soul, as part of character development. Don't flirt with complains nor entertain the discouraging thought. Take on every challenge as an opportunity for growth and strengthening.
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