Perseverance is a Personality Trait

I have become incredibly dedicated to improving my disc skills. There are so many aspects of proper disc golf form and if one of them isn't right then you're throw will have a mind of its own. I started watching PDGA tournaments on YouTube a few months ago, along with videos on technique and disc selection. Watching videos is great, but you have to get out on the course to make any progress. So, I have spent as much time as possible on the course.

My brother Allen, best friend Jared and college roommates Doug and Erik are all witnesses to how upset I can get when I am not doing well at a sport. Bowling used to be the biggest culprit. But now I have Eden with me when I'm on the course. I know she is only one, but I don't want to have a temper around Eden, or at all anymore. The issue here is when you are working on your technique there are typically a lot of growing pains. Needless to say, I haven't been doing too well lately. This is where my strongest personality trait comes into play, perseverance.

I've always found a way to push through when times get tough. My wife, Lauren, and I have had to persevere many times as we learn how to parent. Most recently it's been getting Eden to sleep in her crib. Countless times we have wanted to just bring her into our bed to get her to stop crying, but we pushed through. Right now she is peacefully asleep in the crib and as you can tell by the photo above, I have turned the corner on the course as well.

Whether it is work, marriage, hobbies or any other part of life, perseverance is one of the most important aspects of life. We all fail on a daily basis. The courage to fail is the key to success. Being able to persevere through these failures is the reason I am so happy today.

I used to believe my dream was to be a professional singer and when I left graduate school at Oakland, I thought I had failed. I could have given up and settled in life, but I pushed through. Instead I developed a plan, dropped a ton of weight, enlisted in the Air Force and got myself right. I got back in touch with Lauren and the rest you all know. Everything I have is a result of my faith in my creator and my ability to persevere. 

In today's society, children face so many challenges and are expected to do so much more than the generation before them. Even if I don't do it, I know my children will feel pressure from every angle in life. Friends, teachers, relatives and strangers will all make their opinions known and it is my job as a parent to teach my children how to persevere. I want my children to go for it all and not be afraid of failing. To know that no matter what I will have their back. Personality is developed through your upbringing and your surroundings. I took the best and some of the bad traits from my parents and friends to become the person I am today. Eden, Gunner and any other children I have will learn from my actions and if they inherit just one trait I hope it is the strength to persevere.