Michael Jordan Reflection

It’s the week of Christmas, but I didn’t want to let too much time pass without posting. Today, I want to reflect on one of my favorite athletes, competitors, and people: Michael Jordan.

Even though Michael Jordan defeated my beloved Sonics (RIP — go Knicks now!) and disappointed my 7-year-old self, I’ve always appreciated his competitiveness, his drive, his theatrics, and his relentless will to win. As an adult, my admiration only deepened when I read his trainer Tim Grover’s book, Relentless, and watched The Last Dance. These works gave me a greater appreciation for someone who was famously cut from his varsity team in high school, yet went on to become the epitome of hard work and excellence.

What struck me most was that even when Jordan was at his peak, he never stopped striving for perfection. His work ethic and dedication were unmatched, even by those already considered the best.

One of my favorite quotes from Jordan encapsulates this perfectly:

*"Maybe it's my fault. Maybe I led you to believe it was easy when it wasn't. Maybe I made you think that my highlights started at the free-throw line and not in the gym. Maybe I made you think that every shot I took was a game-winner, that my game was built on flash and not fire. Maybe it's my fault that you didn't see that failure gave me strength; that my pain was my motivation. Maybe I led you to believe that basketball was a God-given gift and not something that I worked for every single day of my life."

These words are a powerful reminder, especially when I find myself making excuses. They challenge me to reflect on the effort and resilience required to achieve greatness, in any area of life.

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