Be You!

I recently had an awakening moment that hit me like a ton of bricks. Recently, with World Cup Soccer fever in the air, my mind ran on the little soccer career I had when I was in high school. 

It was during this time of reflection, that my mind ran down this rabbit hole (as it usually does from time to time), of a specific date and time at my high school training grounds. As a freshman, I looked up to this senior by the name of Saint. Saint was about my height and skin complexion, amongst a few of the many things that we had in common. I often thought to myself that I'm basically "the new Saint of this school" and saw myself filling into his shoes and role once he graduated. On this particular day at the training grounds with Saint and all the rest of my team mates, we were practicing our corner kick plays. Saint had this really incredible style of taking corner kicks, where the ball would seem to be floating in the air for what seemed like an eternity and then drop right in the heart of the penalty area for our team mates to make a play on goal. I, by Saints side would take turns practicing kicking the ball towards the goal from the corner kick area of the field. I was so impressed with Saints style of floating the ball into the penalty area, that I was trying my hardest to replicate what he was doing so that I could achieve the same desired effect, but to no avail I was never able to achieve it. I would eventually come close to some semblance of Saints "floating corner kick", but not quite. 

The Eureka moment that I had though was that I suddenly realized, "oh snap!" The reason I could never float the ball like Saint, was because I wasn't supposed to float the ball like Saint. As simple as it sounds, looking back at that moment I suddenly realized 20 years later, that I was effectively and selfishly robbing my teammates of what I had to offer from my style of kicking corners. You see, I was one of the only left footed players on the team, if not the only left footed player. So, which means that there was something about the way that I kicked the ball and the direction in which the ball would have entered the penalty area, that was unique to me and non of my other teams. Besides, who knows what other younger left footed freshman would have been looking up to me when I became a senior, and would have wanted to take corners the way that I did.

No matter how impressed you might be with your heroes, role models, mentors or idols, do not forget to be who you are and find your own voice. Find your own skills and abilities. Your talents are yours to use to your advantage. Use them wisely, because you never know who you may be robbing from having the experience of what you have to offer and bring to the table. You never know who may be looking up to you for the very same thing that you think is inferior to someone else'. So just be you! 

Sincerely,

Kurtice Lewis

#Kurticelewis