Years ago I wrote about how Carter is a very determined boy; he doesn't give up and has all the faith in the world that he will succeed at whatever he puts his mind to. Well, years have passed and he is still as optimistic about his abilities as ever. I wanted to document this great trait of Carters that is surely here to stay. As he is just around the corner from his 16th birthday, he still has all the confidence in the world that he can succeed. In anything. He makes lofty goals and accomplishes many. And when he doesn't he just says he'll get it soon. A few examples from this past year...he wanted to be able to do a muscle-up. If you don't know what that is, look it up-they are hard. He accomplished this goal awhile ago and then last week he did one with just his finger tips-crazy! The last few weeks when he goes to youth activities at church he has been trying to dunk in the gym. He is close. Every week announces "this is the day, I feel it, I'm going to dunk!" And then he doesn't. But do you know what the cool thing is? He doesn't quit, he doesn't get discouraged. He just tries again. He talks about how he was better this week and he knows what he needs to do next time. He is determined to dunk. And I am sure he will.
What I have learned is to just take the ride of optimism with him. In years past I would try to talk to him about how he might not accomplish something, trying to soften the blow of disappointment. But I finally realized that he doesn't get down, he doesn't fall from his great high. He just keeps on going. So, now when he tells me things like how he is going to be on "American Ninja Warrior" show someday, I just say, "That's awesome". It has been a great thing for me, the ultimate realist (pessimist), to see how it's ok to try and fail. And if you keep at something, you will succeed. I believe with all my heart that Carter can do anything he puts his mind to.
I am so grateful that I can rub shoulders with someone that is so positive about everything in life. He is a great example to me.
4 comments:
That is way cool. I love that about carter!
Love this! Julie, you and I are so similar
Wow! Just reading this post sent my own mind back to all the times that I've heard Carter say: "I can do that!" And more often than not, he does it! He's a breath of fresh air. Congrats on his soon-to-be 16th birthday!!
great post. btw, maybe he'd get a little more elevation if he had someone to dunk over, like little sister. j/k.
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