Follow through

Back in my basketball days playing for the UBCO Heat we would practice two hours a day, have an hour shoot-around before each of our two games PER week. I sometimes wonder how I fit it all in with a full university course load while trying to maintain some kind of a social life. When I look back at how much we practiced, I realized how much emphasis was placed on not only following through in shooting and dribbling drills but playing defense and executing plays. ALL of this was the lead up to following through with the game plan, moment by moment, play by play. Then I look back at how much emphasis was placed on games—usually, you practice hard so you can win games—I realized how much each game was just like practice for the next team we'd play. Then I realized how much each weekend of games led us into the next week of practices and into the next games and so on for FIVE whole years. It all came down to follow through. It all came down to practice. (There is a funny YouTube video of a player interview who repeats “we talkin’ 'bout practice” over and over - Google it if you want a good laugh.)

Different parts of your life will require different levels and versions of follow through. In your relationship, communicating clearly, again and again, is a practice. Following through with what you mean and say to your partner is a practice. Sometimes we flop on our face and forget, sometimes your partner forgets, and that's where you have a chance to remember. In your job, you will have focused tasks, lists and daily things to do to move a project forward. You will practice working with people and working solo. Following through in both circumstances are important for the common goal at hand. In your friendships, you will show up for them in awesome times...You will show up when times are tough too because you love that person. All it requires of you is follow through. Most importantly, the practice you show yourself in the relationship with you will set the capacity for your follow through everywhere else in your life. All things in your world boil down to this one single relationship with You. Remember, it's practice. Be patient.

Life is all about practicing follow through. If you have a goal or something you want to make happen, make it happen. Get into action about it. Follow through with your thoughts and tell someone about it. You’re more likely to follow through with your word. When you follow through it feels better. When you follow something through all the way to the end of the line, it feels complete, it feels tidy. Make the effort. Practice it. Fall down. Get back up. Practice falling. Practice getting back up. Follow through. Again and again. And watch your life unfold.

big hugs,

xx