By David Tepera, November 13, 2024

As we all grow and chase our destiny, we’ll encountered many obstacles and challenges. Some days you might have gave-up, but find a way to never give in.
When I was in my early 20’s, I grew a strong passion of learning to surf. It was one of the hardest sports for me to conquer. Some of you know I was a water polo player in high school, so swimming was my strong point. I would spend hours per day battling waves trying to beat Mother Nature. There were times I gave up, but I refused to give in. Eventually, I was riding with the best along the gulf coast. What’s up old-school surfer Brett Hopkins?
Now, I know most of you can’t compare or care about my experience as a young surfer. Believe me, almost everything I wanted came down to never giving in.
What about you? As we get older, our physical abilities slow down, but don’t give in. As babies, we never gave up when learning to walk. There’s no reason not to have that same determination to get back in life. The only person holding you back is you. Why aren’t you getting up and making the most of each day? Turn your tv off, close your laptops, put away your phones, and get back to the real world. It’s right outside your front door, so don’t give in.
Listen, it’s okay to have bad days. Maybe, it was a rough day at work, you failed the diet, or fell off the wagon of destructive behavior. Don’t beat yourself up because you get another start tomorrow. Remember, there is a higher power that can get you through any difficulty. You just have to believe.
Reflect back over your life. I’m sure there were many challenges you overcame. Sometimes it takes a lot of determination to get back on our feet after being sucker punched. Don’t be the person who accepts failure and crawls away defeated. No, that is not you anymore. You are more powerful than you could ever imagine, so be the warrior that’s inside you.
Just remember, yesterday you might have gave up, but today you won’t give in.