This quote hangs in a GIANT frame in my house.

Side note: When I first added this to our living room, my husband asked me if I know who Vince Lombardi is… Of course I know who Vince Lombardi is. He’s a football guy. A coach right?

Anyway, my inspiration is not that I love football and dedicate a wall in my house to one of it’s coaches. Simply put, this message speaks to me. Right to my very soul. The most important things in my life have required considerable focus and determination. We all experience struggle and moments when we aren’t sure if we are going to stay afloat or figure out what lies before us.

This applies to parenting: the ultimate marathon. But also to a variety of other challenges custom-made to take us the edge of our ability. And this my friends is where magic and change happen. When we are right at the edge of what we can do, then we learn something about ourselves. We learn that we are stronger, braver and more capable than we ever imagined. We become better than we thought we were. Closer to our true selves.

It may not look pretty, but minute by hard earned minute we get through the tough obstacles in our lives. When we look back, we see what we have accomplished and lived through. Success feels a little like that. To push through when you are exhausted. To try again tomorrow. To show up and put your heart on the line and do the work until the job is done.

This, my friends, is why the “football” quote has earned space in my home. Wherever your field of battle lies, keep fighting. You got this.