I am your typical Type A person. Sometimes, I couldn't be prouder of this, and others I wish I was anything but. I don't know how to do anything in a small way; I never have. I have always strived to do more, be better, and be extraordinary.
With constant ambition comes emotional hardship. If you want to be the best at something, there are going to be struggles. It's not always easy. There isn't a straight path to the top. The high that comes from reaching that top also comes with the lows of not quite making it, yet. The times when you don't think you can do it any longer, when that voice in your head tells you that you are never going to reach it, you might as well give up now. But what I've found is that a nice walk, the sound of the waves, or a good book can usually bring everything back into perspective. When I realized that yes, this is worth it, the highs outweigh the lows, and I am strong enough.
It is so hard to always want to be the best, because frankly, that's not possible. If we put our everything into everything we do, what's left? Passion is a tricky thing, ambition too. Passion allows us to know what we want to be, and why. Ambition tells us that being the best is the only way to be passionate. There is a fine balance within the two, a sweet spot where some amazing things can happen. Being ambitious convinces me I want (need?) to go to a great college, that I need to make World Team, that I need to be in the top few of my class. Passion tells me that I want to learn, I want to be the best handler and trainer I can be, and that I want to always do my very best. The balance between these two things have brought me some unbelievable experiences and allowed me to get closer to these goals with each day.
Success is a battle. What did Miley Cyrus tell us? "Life's a climb, but the view's great"? I agree. Being the best at anything takes time, it takes planning, it takes patience, but the most important thing that success demands is passion. Passion pushes you. Passion keeps you thumping on the steering wheel to the beat of the music on a horrible day. Passion keeps you looking up. Passion makes you stronger.
