I am a competitive person. I don't like to lose. My family can attest to this fact (we get kinda into board games....) When I got into swimming, it was the best thing I could have done. The competition is incredible! Swimming is a unique sport. It is both a team and individual sport; this made it a great sport for me. Not only was I swimming against another person in hopes of beating them and earning points for my team, but I was swimming against myself. Double competition! Booyah!
On a team level, we were all working together for one cause: to beat the opponents. We all know it's true! No team goes into a competition or meet saying "well, let's not win this one. Who cares?" Haha, no. It matters. The goal is to come out on top! Each of us is there trying our best. We cheer on our teammates. Help each other reach our goals. There is also a coach there to tell you what you did that was good, and where there is room for growth; which ultimately helps you to become better. As solitary as this sport may feel, it's not. There's always someone there for you.
As much as you have a team there with you, competitors in the pool in the next lane over, it's ultimately you verses the clock. Each race the goal is to go faster than you did before. Drop more and more time and become better and better. It's self perfecting at it's best! To do this, you practice daily (sometimes more than once a day). During these practices you better your technique, build up your endurance, push yourself to the limits, and do as much as you can to be ready for the day of the meet and beat your old time.
Swimming was something I poured my soul into! I physically and mentally drained myself in this sport! There were times that I thought I couldn't go any longer or give it anything more. At those times, it was the help of my team and coach that got me to push past the limits.
In 2 Nephi 25:23 it says "...for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do." This life we are expected to do all that we can. Give ourselves 110% to the Lord. Obviously, we aren't perfect. As much as we give, it will never be enough. That is where the grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ comes in. He is there with open arms to lift us up; He is there to help us push past the limits that we reach in this life to become much more. To help us become "2perfect, even as [our] Father which is in heaven is perfect." 
3 comments:
I love what great examples do for me! My mom, my sisters, my neighbors and ward members and especially my Savior! They help me want to do more and be more than I am!
Despite the immodesty, this was a fantastic post! It's all about giving your very best. Leave it all out on the line. And every other sports cliche. Good one, Sister Nestman!
What helps me give 110%? hmmm... I guess if I were to put it into words it would have to be the desire to make my Heavenly Father and family proud of me. I don't want to let my Father down and so I try my hardest to be my best. I fail sometimes... ok, I fail a lot of times, but that doesn't mean I stop trying! Like Dory says, "Just Keep Swimming!!!"
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