If you haven’t see the movie Blind Side yet, it’s something you need to put on your “must do” list. I heard many people say it was a good movie (friends and others on social media sites), but I have to admit, that when I first heard the title, I never thought I’d actually see the movie. You see, “Blind Side” sounded like an Action Movie to me and I’m not all that into Action Movies.

Then later my husband said it was a football movie and Sandra Bullock was in it. Well, now…that’s more my kind of movie! So we decided to see it. There are a few things that stood out in my mind from this movie and I’ll share them here.

Get to Know Your Players
There was one part in the movie where Sandra Bullock told the football coach that he should get to know his players. You see, she was able to “reach” one of the players much quicker and much more effectively because she knew and understood him. She was basically telling the coach that if he actually got to know his players a bit better, he could probably be more effective as a coach. Without knowing your players, you’re likely to use coaching strategies or tactics with them that don’t work. You won’t get your point across as clearly and your players may not respond the way you want them to. This is all very clearly illustrated in the movie and I thought that was pretty cool and fun to see.

What the Heck is Your Excuse?
The other major thing that struck me was just how much the main character had accomplished and where he had come from. Seriously, there are very few people that I personally know, involved in this game of softball who’ve face the kinds of challenges and obstacles this guy faced from a very young age.  I know there are players out there who have tough lives.  I know there are players out there who come from less than ideal family or home life situations, but this kid had it pretty tough.

• Not having a place to live
• Never having had a bed before
• Not even playing his sport until high school
• Scoring extremely low in school and on evaluation tests, etc, etc, etc.

To say the odds were against him is an understatement.  I can’t say I know anyone who’s had all the disadvantages he did.  And yet, look at how much he accomplished!

• Athletic scholarship to a competitive DI school (not just to college)
• Going from a 1.7 GPA to over 2.5 in one year so that he could qualify for that scholarship
• He learned the game in a relatively short period of time and excelled to the point of not only receiving an athletic scholarship, but to getting multiple offers from top DI schools
• Making the Honor Roll in college even after struggling for so long academically earlier in his life
• Not only did he sign with a DI school, but he earned a starting spot in games as a freshman
• Not only did he start games as a freshman, but he was named as a Freshman All-American
• Not only did he start games in college, but he excelled enough to get drafted to the NFL
• Not only did he get drafted to be a professional football player, he was picked in the FIRST round (23rd overall)
• Not only did he get drafted, he signed a multi-million dollar contract AND ended up staring in his very first year in the NFL

And on top of all that, there is a major motion movie picture about his life that people are raving about ~ all in the same year he finished college and got drafted.

Wow!  Wow!  and WOW!

When you look at everything he experienced growing up and all the obstacles that stood in his way, chances are, the things you’ve faced in your life pale in comparison (I realize this may not be true for everyone…but if you’re here, reading this blog on the internet, odds are, your life hasn’t been as difficult).  Then look at all that he achieved in spite of all that and compare it to what you’ve done, what your life is like. Was he physically talented?  Obviously ~ but that doesn’t mean things came easy or that his accomplishments came without effort!

Watch the movie, take a good hard look at yourself and your situation.  If your life isn’t what you want it to be…honestly…what in the world is your excuse?

What is your excuse for not making your life into something great?  Will you and I reach that same multi-million dollar, nationally recognized level that Michael Oher did (that’s the main character in the movie)?  Maybe not.  Probably not.  But the very least, you should be able to make your life into something you’re proud out…something you love…and something you’re happy about!  It may not be easy, but it IS do-able!