Closing out May as "Mental Health Awareness" month, I reflect on my own moments of despair & mental fatigue. This year was a struggle with lots of changes for me: family deaths, career transition, relationships needing fixed: father to children, coach to athletes, coach to parents, peers in the workplace, He say/She say, dealing with privilege brats and underperforming students and colleagues.... I'm very glad that the school year has come to a close. Since day 1 of teaching/coaching/training, it's always been about the kids for me... especially those ones that deserve a level playing field to get that push towards something greater, the kids that are willing to do the work when given an opportunity to prepare and perform. This year students & parents made me want to quit, hang it up and walk away for good... just like so many teachers did this past year. But God.... Every battle, challenge or mental defeat I was hit with, I shook it off and kept moving. I stood face to face with my demons and struggles and moved through and beyond them towards greater. Taking the time to reflect and process in those moments gave me a deeper understanding and appreciation as to WHY I do my job. For the naysayers with my head to the chopping block, that became fuel to me.... it drove me to continue to sharpen my axe even better. "Iron sharpens Iron as one man another." Prov 27:17 My coach once said," Life is Change, Growth is Optional," and that reign true this school year with every moment because it caused me to grow stronger each step afterwards. To see this photo in my feed today, I felt the need to close out my year officially getting things off my chest. On to the next now.... 💯👊🏿 (at Richmond, Texas) https://www.instagram.com/p/CeMe4PVJuUG/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=