I can & I will.

This past week I realized something. Well, a few things, actually...

but they can all be schmooshed together into

.one.

.big.

.thing.

and that thing is...

I have POTENTIAL.

We all do.

~~~

In the words of Hannah Montana, "It's easy to feel like you're all alone, to feel like nobody knows. The great that you are, the good that's inside you, is trying so hard to break through. Maybe it's your time to lift off and fly. You won't know if you never try. I will be there with you all of the way; you'll be fine. Don't let anyone tell you that you're not strong enough. Don't give up! There's nothing wrong with just being yourself; that's more than enough! So come on and raise your voice. Speak your mind and make some noise." I love how this song states that you can do anything; you just need to try. Everyone has potential.

This past week I came to realize that I am a "jack of all trades, master of none." I play the piano and cello, sing, swim, play water polo, play percussion, and more... but nothing am I incredible at. Sometimes I look back and think where I would be in my life if I had just chosen to develop one or two of these talents instead of trying to do them all. People always say there is no way at this point that I can become great at one of these; it's too late. But it's not. Like I have already said... I have potential. My piano teacher says so, my voice teacher says so, my cello teacher says so, even my swimming coach. What brought on this post on potential was that last Friday I had one on one swim practice with my coach. I worked on butterfly the whole time. Coach said that because I am built to butterfly and have such good form I could possibly make State next year in butterfly if I get enough pool time in for practice. Me, chubby little Elizabeth who has been swimming for seven whole years but continually gets beaten by rookies at the sport, get a State time? Never! Especially not in butterfly, the most difficult/tiring/drudgerious (---by the way, drudgerious is a word I made up a few years ago for an Honors English application; it'a pretty much just an adjective form of the noun drudgery) stroke! But no, not "never." It's obviously possible if my coach says it is. I just need to believe and practice. And that is the same with everyone and everything, It kinda goes with the whole "faith without works is dead" bit, but with faith anything is possible if you put forth effort for it to be so.

Practice+Belief=Anything you want to accomplish.

Many people think that saying "I can" is a great way to motivate yourself; I disagree. Saying "I can" just states a fact. "I can do my homework." "I can go on a diet." "I can get to bed early." Yeah, so what? I already knew that stuff. Why does printing it out make any difference? I already knew it was true. I find that when you change "can" to "will" the fact becomes a goal. A goal that will hopefully be accomplished.

I will get at least a high B in my Calculus class.**

I will strive my hardest to become valedictorian.**

I will exercise regularly (even when swim season is over).**

I will finish all my homework on time.**

I will be kind to everyone I come in contact with.**

Make State in the 100 Fly senior year.**

Now those are goals. Goals that I hope to achieve. Goals that I know I can achieve.