Stop Drifting and Start Rowing
Jesse Owens was the first American track and field athlete to win four gold medals; attained at the 1936 Olympic Games.
Jesse was born with scrawny legs. But one day, the man who was known as the fastest runner in the world, Charlie Paddock, came to his school. Addressing the boys Paddock said, “You can be what you want to be in life. Decide what you want to be. Then go to God, and ask Him to help you to become what you want to be.” The words of Paddock penetrated the young Jesse’s consciousness. And he felt as if an electric current had passed through his entire being. He went out to the playground, and started jumping. He kept on and on jumping. In this upbeat mood, he met the sports coach, and said to him, “I have a dream to be the fastest man alive, like Charlie Paddock!” The coach patted the boy, and said to him, “It is good to have a dream. But you must build a ladder to reach that dream - a ladder made up of four things: determination, dedication, discipline, and a positive attitude.”
The rest is history. Jesse Owens built this ladder. The dream he cherished finally came true as he won four gold medals at the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games.
Albert Einstein once said, “A ship is always safe at shore; but that is not what it’s built for.” Often we find ourselves just idling, and drifting along with the current. Once we stop drifting in our lives, we can become more purposeful. Our actions will be much more goal-oriented, propelling us to fulfil our dreams. Remember, an ambitious dream doesn’t become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination, and hard work. So stop drifting, and start pursuing your dreams with passion!
