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The past year and especially the last two weeks (and reasonably so) I've been constantly asked these questions.
My answer is "Yes".
Yes.
Yes, I've been training since September for 2016 Rio Olympics.
Yes, I'm in law school at an elite institution.
Yes, it's hard.
Yes, I train every morning and later like any other athlete.
Yes, my practice entails commuting from the D to the M and to the V.
Yes, I work too because I'm a broke student.
Yes, I trained after a career ending knee diagnosis 4 months ago.
Yes, I taught myself to jump off my other leg for the first time in 13yrs
Yes, it was hard & frustrating.
Yes, my body finally broke down w/ time & resources not on my side.
So,
No, I won't be competing in Rio.
But, "Yes" it is God's will and "Yes!" I'm okay.
My one hope from this past year is that we as a people are more accepting and embracing of a human's duality. It is possible to be elite, different, or unique in more than ONE thing in life - we are never just ONE thing. I can't tell you the amount of times people questioned my purpose & even said what I was doing was impossible. Their opinions weren't grounded in ill intent as much as it was a result of their sheer inability to believe.
If you have the will to be a doctor and a musician, do it. If you want own a business and teach, do it. If you want to be a law student (or any student or worker or professional) and an Olympic athlete, do it. Everything else is noise guided by people & limiting ideals about how you "should" lead your life. You have 24 hours in the day. If your will is DEEP enough, diligence will find it's way. AND, if you fail, you're likely to feel more complete than if you never tried.
"When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, 'I used everything you gave me."
Thanks to my coaches & teammates (#skeeterjacksonflightschool) for supporting me this year. Good luck to all my friends and fam competing in Rio!!
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