That Championship Character

 “Champions do not become champions when they win the event, but in the hours, weeks, months and years they spend preparing for it. The victorious performance itself is merely the demonstration of their championship character.”
- T. Alan Armstrong

Like many of you, I watched A LOT of basketball in March (and I wish I could say I had a strong March Madness bracket but, sadly, not…finishing in the “prestigious” last place spot in the Annual Cawley Johnson March Madness pool!).  I saw some incredible play, fantastic teamwork and almost impossible shots.  And it’s easy to get caught up in the excitement  and think of the tourney as just a couple intense weeks in March, but in reality these kids have spent years…thousands of hours…hundreds of games preparing for that one game we’re watching.  Literally, as Alan Armstrong says, the game is merely the demonstration of their dedication, their championship character.

And as I thought more about dedication demonstrating championship character, I thought of a conversation I had with my daughter, Isabella, last weekend.  ‘Bella is a surgical tech and in her last year of nursing school at Our Lady of the Lake Medical College in Baton Rouge and I am constantly amazed at the amount of course work, studying and clinicals – in addition to her job -- that she has to tackle on a regular basis and the dedication it takes to succeed.  For the first time in her entire life, she missed the entire 2 week Mardi Gras celebration at our home in New Orleans because she was studying and had clinical assignments on the weekends.  She missed our annual St Patrick’s Day celebration in Baton Rouge because she was working.  And although she lives less than two hours from New Orleans, we haven’t seen her since Christmas.  In spite of it all,  she was telling me how excited she was about her studies and her impending graduation in December.  And I told her:  “Graduation won’t be just a day you’ve waited for for years, it will be a demonstration of your championship character.”

So, ask yourself:  How hard have you truly pushed yourself to get to where you are in your life today? Is there more you could be doing?  What are some significant victories you’ve experienced because of your dedication to investing the time and effort needed to win?  And finally, what can you do to be a role model of championship character to others at work, home and in the community? Your life, lived well, should be a daily demonstration of your championship character.