Be a Hero – Excellence
Heroes give everything they do and all that they have. But…have you ever found yourself doing something halfheartedly? When I was in 10th grade, I took dance classes. I finally had made it to the classes for the high school girls. I had been looking forward to this since third grade when I started ballet and tap. Each year at our recitals, I wanted to be grown up so that I could do all the back handsprings, have solos in the ballet, and do the famous lyric and hat routines that wowed the audience. But now, I had arrived and my heart wasn’t in it. I loved to dance, but I had found something I loved even more! Our church had begun a ministry that had started to travel around the United States to other churches. We met so many people and held training sessions for children’s ministry. During the school year we met and trained for our summer traveling. We choreographed dances, flag routines, and learned how to play songs on our instruments. It was where I felt like I belonged. In dance classes, I was struggling to connect with other dancers, mainly because the things they talked about weren’t a part of my life. I grew distant from my peers in dance. Because of this disconnect, I lost interest in being part of the dance studio. I finished my 10th grade dance recital, and somehow knew it was going to be my last one. While, it was my last time dancing on stage, I left it all on the floor and danced my heart out. It was goodbye to that activity in the studio.
The following year, my parents and I decided I wouldn’t attend classes at the studio anymore. Instead, I invested more time into what was happening with my church. I was glad that I gave it my all even though it was the end of my dance performances. Now that I had put aside the classes from the dance studio, I was able to focus more attention to what was meaningful to me. I was so thankful for the time I had there because it prepared me for how I would use those talents in the future. No matter where you are in your activities – the beginning or the end, it’s important to look over them and determine your level of excellence. Is it a 2 or a 10? Maybe it is time to find what you are passionate about and go to a new level of excellence in it. Just remember to finish strong before you leave to pursue other interests or goals.
When we are doing things excellently, we harness our attention to it. All our efforts are maximized, and the results are much more worthwhile. Excellence doesn’t mean that you do a lot of things. It means that you do the things you should be doing well. This isn’t just for your interests alone. Excellence spills over into everything that you have before you, even those things that you are required to do.
There are levels in excellence. Everybody’s level of excellence is different. In gym class, there are many students who can run fast and meet goals. Others don’t even try. But have you seen the students who can’t make the goals, yet try their hardest? This effort qualifies them as excellent! If you are improving and gaining, even little by little, then you are moving in excellence. Soon, you will find yourself overcoming difficulties more easily than before all because you never hung up your effort.
Think about the beginning of the school year. Everything is so fresh and most want to start the year off with their best foot forward. Why does that start to disappear come January? The edge of excellence has become dull. Don’t allow your excellence to be dulled by the difficulty or monotony of your days. Instead, determine to follow through with excellence. In your studies, at work, and in your activities, put your effort into them with all that you are, and you will accomplish much more than you ever thought you could. Excellence is a force that propels you to new and exciting places. It can put you into places of leadership, into the winner’s circle, and provide you with the opportunity to help others. Most of all, your life will be inspiring to those around you.
There are some athletes in our nation that people love to hate. You could probably list off a few right now. But many of these people live a very disciplined life that is driven by being excellent and they aim to be the best at what they do. From their diet to their exercise regimen to what they have sacrificed to be where they are now, they have walked the path of excellence. Take a lesson from their examples.
Whatever you are meant to be doing at this time in your life, do it with all that you have—all of your heart, attention, and efforts. Those who do so will have a great reward because of the excellence they put forth.
Order your copy of Be A Hero to learn more about how to walk in excellence!
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