Resolute

Tony takes resolutions seriously. After a boys night with Jackie Chan and Bruce Lee, Tony was inspired to do a back flip. I could tell it has been burning in him for some time. During play time I’ll see him working on cart-wheels and hand-stands, but it wasn’t until Sunday that a true dedication to mastering this skill came to pass. While everyone else was playing games inside, soccer or working on dances, I found him in the back yard stretching his back, using the swing-set bars to get the feel of the flip and then trying back bends on the hill.

His diligent work inspires me. Some people talk about making New Year’s resolutions and end up breaking them right about now, shortly after setting the new goal. If you can’t and won’t start pursuing a new goal today or March 22nd or August 6th, January 1st won’t necessarily be the magic day of inspiration and dedication. Tony didn’t wait for a special day, a few more inches, an 100% on his exams, a vision from God, a spine of Jell-O to bend without struggle. He went for his goal straight away and kept it up. Starting is important but continuing everyday is even more necessary. Tony found out immediately he lacked all the skill, strength, knowledge, and flexibility to do a back flip so he’s working those weaknesses and stretching himself each day.

A few months ago I posted the story “Lift the Cow” about a man who could lift a grown cow without much stress or strain because of the time he put in from the moment the cow was born. I read this story one June afternoon the summer before I started college and my career as a heptathlete. Like Tony and Jackie Chan, I took the inspiration and ran with it, literally. I put on my shoes that moment and ran. It hurt and stretched me, but I had started to pursue a goal. And the next day, I woke up and put on my shoes again and stepped out the door.

Tony and I worked on his back flip today. I tried to coach him with my high jump lessons, not a huge asset in my repertoire, but he’s a little more confident, stronger and encouraged. I have no doubt that a back flip will be added in the show to highlight this boy who is resolute.