written by john c ashworth

My daughter, Ana, has a shirt she likes to wear now . She picked it up at one of her track meets this year. On the back it reads,

"The hurdles used to make me anxious but then I got over it."

In her case, this message cuts deep for reasons I won't go into detail here right now. She wouldn't want me to. She is getting over a lot of things and had a terrific freshman year of high school, especially athletically.

The Hurdles are Daring

Looking down the track from the starting blocks, hurdles line-up in orderly fashion patiently waiting their turn. Patiently waiting for each athlete to approach, building their rhythm, and their timing, and their speed as they breeze down the track. Nothing more on their minds then the next one, and then the next one, and then the next, until they are leaning toward the finish line in a flash of brilliance.

In some cases, you get the impression that those hurdles are coaxing them along. But it's more than that. Beckoning might be a more accurate word. Because as they draw you in, it seems you begin to discover things about yourself that until now, you could not figure out how to unlock.

You discover that you are strong, and powerful, and not afraid to be called into the race. Not afraid to let go and trust your judgement in a way that places you so close to success and failure that your heart pounds with massive force until you are in the middle of that race, picking up speed, letting go of your fear, and allowing yourself to break free from everything that's ever held you back in your life.

Because when you decide on this race, and its demand for your precision every time, I believe you have made a very powerful choice about who you are, what you want to accomplish, and what you're willing to sacrifice and put on the line once you're set in those starting blocks.

Never have I been in such awe of such a fiercely headstrong and competitive group of young women. They are relentless and humble in their pursuit and as much as I can, I learn from them.

-John

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