One of my favorite quotes is from Dave Tate. He said, “Real fear makes men do amazing things they would never do without it.” I’ve done a lot of reflecting over the past couple of weeks and what Dave said has really stuck with me. As I lead my life in other directions I look forward to but also fear the future. I fear falling into “that’s just the way it is” mindset, I fear defeat, I fear feeling I put myself in a situation where I can’t make a difference, I fear that I’m leaving a one-of-a-kind place. But just as Tate says, I love my fear. Is that weird that I feel that way? Is it weird to say that yes, I do love my fear. If I was just a normal person who had never set foot in SAPT’s doors then maybe it would be. However, as I leave SAPT I feel ready and able to embrace my fears. Reflecting back on the years at SAPT I remember vividly entering the facility for the first time and being in awe. I was in awe of the work ethic, the drive, the training, the coaching, it was all amazingly overwhelming. I felt like I couldn’t hang with any of them; the coaches, the athletes and clients, they were all above me. What could I offer these people? As I’ve gone on these past couple of years those fears have gone away; I’ve become a good coach and an even better man for being at SAPT. The coaches who I now call family and the athletes and clients I’ve worked with have made me understand that if you embrace your fears you can make a difference. I don’t know if the coaches and people of SAPT understand just how important they’ve been in making me the person I am but I hope they do. I hope they realize how thankful I am to all of them for everything they’ve given me. Leaving SAPT is extremely hard for me and I want everyone to know that I am eternally grateful and I truly wish you all nothing but the best life has to offer.
As I said before I fear the future, I fear falling into “that’s just the way it is” mindset, I fear defeat, I fear feeling I put myself in a situation where I can’t make a difference, I fear that I’m leaving a one-of-a-kind place. However, in reflection I’ve come to understand that I am not truly leaving SAPT because SAPT is not something you leave. Once you’ve been there it becomes a part of you and it is a place that will be with me always. With all this said if there is one thing the people and coaches of SAPT have taught me it’s that, you have to love your fear.