"Coming Back Stronger"

As I sit here on my couch on this absolutely perfect Sunday, I am joined with millions of other people who are tuning in to the opening Sunday of NFL football. The air is lighter outside and there are even a few pumpkin beers chilling in my refrigerator which means fall is just around the corner! This excites me because I love any and all things pumpkin, I love wearing a nice, chunky sweater on a cool evening, and I am obsessed with football. Some people seem to be surprised to find out how much I love baseball and football, among others, however, my entire family is made up of die-hard New York Giants fans, and are split between the Yankees and Red Sox. (I like the Mets, yikes.) Regardless of all that, I have a few favorite athletes that I both love and admire. About a year and a half ago I read Drew Brees' book called Coming Back Stronger, and I instantly had an admiration for him as he has struggled through adversity to get to where he is today.

A lot of what Drew shares in his book is personal and much of it involves sports struggles and trying to attain his ultimate goal of becoming a great NFL quarterback. We all know that doesn't happen overnight and Drew shares many stories of his struggles through injury in high school, college, and other various hurdles he reached in his first years in the NFL and beyond. Drew Brees is a very positive person with a strong belief in God and his faith, and his attitude was instantly contagious. I read Coming Back Stronger when I had just moved back home after grad school and was on the hunt for a job as I adjusted to being back under someone else's roof. My attitude was very positive although I was uncertain as to what would come my way. It was a good time to read this book and I unknowingly timed it well because of all the insight about moving forward and always keeping a positive attitude that were kept between these pages. I used my beloved post-it notes to mark pages and quotes from Drew that inspired me, and as I sit here, wearing my Drew Brees #9 t-shirt, while I watch the New Orleans Saints game on tv, I am reminded of what a motivational and generous person Drew Brees is. I wrote down some of my favorite quotes from him and some of his outlooks on different life situations, and on this opening Sunday of the NFL, I thought it would be a great day to revisit his wise words.

This first quote is hanging next to my bed, and I read it to myself every morning before I get out of bed. It really sets my positive mood for the day and reminds me how important each and every day is. 

"A good friend of mine once told me that each morning when you wake up, think about winning the day. Don’t worry about a week from now or a month from now- just think about one day at a time. If you are worried about the mountain in the distance, you might trip over the molehill right in front of you. Win the day!"

"When you think negative thoughts, negative things usually happen. On the flip side, when you think positively and visualize success, that’s usually what you get."

"One of the most significant lessons I learned during that dark period of injury and rehab is this: if God leads you to it, he will lead you through it. Everything happens for a reason and everything is part of his master plan. If you let adversity do its work in you, it will make you stronger. When you come out on the other side, you just may be amazed at the things God has allowed you to accomplish- things you might not have believed were possible."

"I really believe adversity is a path to opportunity. But sometimes it’s difficult in the moment to see that God has a bigger vision for the future than you can grasp. It may be years before you can look back and truly appreciate the journey God has take you on. And usually, it’s the one you wouldn’t have chosen."

"Experience is what you gain when you don’t get what you want."

  

"You will undoubtedly have challenges ahead that you will have to face and overcome. But don’t forget that adversity is not your enemy. It can unleash a power in your life that will make you stronger and help you achieve amazing things."

"Finish strong. It is not where you start in life, but rather how you finish. It’s that last play that can make all the difference in the outcome. Keep it simple: in everything you do, make your last rep your best rep."

"Never forget that sometimes your greatest victories can come from your greatest defeats. The next time adversity knocks on your door, stand up tall and do the right thing. You can do more than just survive. You can come back- stronger."

I contribute a lot of my own positive behavior and thinking to what I learned from Drew Brees. I highly recommend his book to anyone, especially to those that need an uplifting story or some personal motivation. I revisit his words every morning when I wake up, and also when times get tough. His strong faith is admirable and his role as a leader is inspiring. Life is not always easy and there are still hurdles down the road for each of us. However, with help and inspiration from each other, from our role models, and from our own friends and family, these hard times are made so much easier as we are each on the path to becoming stronger.