I’ve been spending a lot of time lately thinking about the future. Perhaps stressing would be a more appropriate word. Anyway, I was recently injured during one of our spring practices and as a result will be out of action for a while. With only one season left to play and my own mortality slowly sinking in, it became increasingly evident that a future without football could be coming sooner rather than later.

I found this scenario constantly weighing on my mind. Somehow I was going to have to move on with life minus the sport I love. Not to mention the thing that has taken up the majority of my time since the age of 6. I began questioning myself. Asking, “What else are you good at? What’s something you truly love to do? What do you not mind doing for the rest of your life?” Although the questions quickly flooded my mind, the answers weren’t coming nearly as fast.

After spending a few days down in the dumps, I hopped on twitter to waste some time. While scrolling, I received a message from an old teammate who had heard about my recent case of bad luck. His message contained a link to a blog run by Baron Batch, a former Texas Tech running back and current Pittsburgh Steeler. As I was reading the post I felt a sudden sense of relief inside  and peace come onto me. Not only because I was so encouraged by the article but also because i realized I wasn’t alone in something else…Writing.

I had been writing little things here and there since high school but never thought much of it. It was really more of a way to pass time during class than anything. The more I wrote the more I realized how much I enjoyed it. Then during some dark times I went through in the last couple of years, writing and I truly fell in love. It caught me off guard to say the least. An athlete who’s a writer? I didn’t know any. Nor had I heard of one. But upon receiving this message of fate and being led to Barons blog I realized it was not only something I needed to hone in on, but something I had to share. Not for personal glory or to bring attention to myself in any way, shape or form. Rather I had to share so that I could give another writer the same opportunity that Baron gave me. The opportunity to follow my heart and chase after my passion.

With surgery coming up next week my mind rests easy. I now know that I’m so much more than just an athlete. For the first time in my life I can honestly say my future looks bright with or without football. It gives me great joy knowing everything is gonna be alright. I’ve come a long way since the injury and for this I say thank you Charles and Baron, God bless.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” —Jeremiah 29:11

Categories: My Journal

Tags: blog, blogging, bright, encouragement, follow, future, happiness, happy, heart, help, life, live, love, new, others, passion, thank you, thanks, versatility, writing