Homecoming at Georgetown Prep High School is a sacred day in The Clark household.

The changing of the leaves. The tradition. The sense of community. And the smell of football in the air. It’s a magical time for the young and the old who make their way back on campus to celebrate.

And this year’s Homecoming game held even more significance. It was my 30th Reunion from high school and I was reunited with old friends who all shared a common bond. And, as an added bonus, my son was playing in the football game at my old linebacker position. The circle of life.

Even more significant, it was my dad’s 70th reunion! His love and enthusiasm for this day has trickled down through the generations. And, with my mom by his side, he had persevered and battled through various challenges to make the trip, reaffirm his love for the school, and watch his grandson battle on the gridiron!

Just showing up was a victory.

But halfway through the second quarter, my son dropped back into coverage, intercepted a pass, and scampered 35 yards for a touchdown!

How can you possibly contain your emotions?

Team victory was now tangible.  And sharing that moment surrounded by family, friends, old classmates, and the community brought a whole new level of appreciation.

On the one hand, it was a just a simple event.  But knowing my dad (and mom!) was there in person to witness the thrilling event was not about football or touchdowns or individual plays.

The stars had aligned in a mystical way. Anything seemed possible.

In that moment, a virtual nugget of optimism crystallized in the air. And it quickly graduated into a belief:

We all face challenges and difficult moments in life. But if we keep battling, eventually things will all come together.

When One Bucket Fills, Another Springs a Leak

We have so much to balance in our work and personal lives. When one aspect of our life is up, another is often down.

Perhaps we are hitting our numbers and experiencing financial success but our personal relationships are in disarray. Or perhaps we are struggling with our finances but nurturing meaningful relationships.

Perhaps we are building a solid foundation for our business but we aren’t spending enough time with our family. Or we have established a healthy home life but our company goes deep into the red.

Perhaps we are studying hard and making the grades but our concentration slips on the athletic field. Or we are playing the best games of our life but skating by with our academics.

Perhaps some of our children are well-adjusted and in a good place. But others are struggling socially and emotionally.

Life is a giant balancing act. When one bucket is filled, another may spring a leak. We are constantly fighting to keep our lives on the rails.

Small Successes Can Build Our Confidence

But there will be moments when everything comes together. When hard work pays off. When we achieve a moment of clarity and appreciation across all the buckets of our life.

It doesn’t have to be dramatic. It can be a simple but heartfelt moment. And it can be for just a fleeting instant.

But the ability to sit back and reflect on that simple moment can give us hope for the future. That feeling can sustain us in our darkest moments. The appreciation of that moment demonstrates the art of the possible.

That will only strengthen our resilience. And that glimmer of success will give us the motivation we need to keep fighting!

Keep Filling the Bucket

But what happens when all the buckets in our life are empty?

Our personal relationships are in disarray. Our business is falling apart. Our grades are tanking and we are on the losing end of every contest. How do we maintain our motivation? How do we keep moving forward?

What other option do we have?

If we feel sorry for ourselves, we will never achieve balance. If we stop trying, our buckets will always stay empty. If we blame others for our misfortune, we are only securing our own failure.

It’s not going to be easy. Hardships don’t go away by wishful thinking. Optimism alone will not fill all the buckets in our lives.

It will take hard work. It will take resilience. It will take courage in the face of incredible doubt.

But mostly, it will take a belief. A belief that if we keep battling, eventually everything in our life will come together.

ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE IF WE BELIEVE!

That magical moment is out there. Even if only for a fleeting instant.

Until next week, keep smiling!