The Road To His Dream

J has completed four weeks of the training program that Coach C set up for him.  It has been four weeks of intense, hard work, both physically and mentally.  Five days a week he is swimming, working out, or running.  He is playing baseball for two teams and keeping up with his school work.  He's also following an eating program that requires him to eat a lot of food.  None of it is easy.  There are days when J is mentally and physically exhausted.  Days where just getting out of bed to start the whole routine over seems overwhelming. Days where the thought of eating one more bite of food makes him  want to throw up.  Yet one thing that has never wavered is J's commitment to following the program.  When  he complains about being tired or balks at eating all of his food I ask him if he's ready to throw in the towel. The answer is always, without hesitation, no.  You see, this is the road to J's dream of baseball.  It's a long road; J is only at the beginning of the journey.  It's a journey J is determined to complete.  He's realizing that there are many sacrifices he'll have to make along the way.  There isn't as much time as there used to be to hang out with friends, go to parties, or play video games.  Even weekends are often times filled with baseball games or practices.   J's life revolves around baseball, more so now than ever before.  He's determined to succeed and if that means giving up other stuff, he's willing to do it.  We're all very proud of his hard work and dedication.  I told him recently that someday, when he's reached his ultimate goal of playing big league baseball (we like to say when, not if) he's going to look back on this time of intense training and know it made him stronger.  All of the hard work, sweat, sacrifices, and tears will have been worth it.  The success will mean more because he'll know he earned it through hard work and dedication to his dreams.  He just grinned at me and went to do that day's workout.