How We Unexpectedly Aligned with Jason Kelce

I have things in my drafts about Damar Hamlin.

I planned to dedicate my first post to him, but things can change.

For those who might read this, and even those who decide to scroll past, perhaps one day, these words will be something you look back upon. If not, at least read this book. Don't worry, it's a short one with lots of pictures too.

Taking a chance is scary. It's also confusing as hell, and many people don't take them because the path isn't very clear. Myself included. This page has been in the works for quite a bit (way too long), and by being hesitant trying to find the perfect words, the initial take-off never took off. But I’d like you to read this:

"Oh, the places you'll go! There is fun to be done!

There are points to be scored. There are games to be won.

And the magical things you can do with that ball

will make you the winning-est winner of all.

Fame! You'll be famous as famous can be,

with the whole wide world watching you win on TV.

Except when they don't.

Because, sometimes they won't.

I'm afraid that some times

you'll play lonely games too.

Games you can't win

'cause you'll play against you.”

Jason Kelce said this exact quote in his retirement speech. (YEARS after we wrote it).

This quote may sound familiar because it's from good ol' Dr. Suess! It's funny how particular things like reading rhymes to a baby can result in a driving force—words written for children as the hidden motive directing me to take a risk. As silly as it sounds, I hope by the end of this, your inner child will kick you in the rear to take those risks you've been pushing aside too.

If one of the best players to ever play in the NFL can quote this at the end of his career, I hope by the end of this, your inner child will kick you in the rear (x2) to take those risks you've been pushing aside.

My drafts about Damar Hamlin include him being an inspiration and deserving nothing but the finest dedication. That quote above holds true and even relates to topics beyond sport, but immediately upon reading it, Damar came to my mind. Damar is a human being AND an athlete, so I'm honored to say: Damar, this one's for you.

I initially thought his event in sports history was the story I needed to ignite some spark. Yet, Damar and “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!” invoked this odd correlation that had to happen for me to rip the bandaid off.

Helping athletes thrive mentally has always been my passion. However, my mission within this so-called imagination of mine lies beyond the field too. You are a player, yes. But you are also a human being who may struggle and get stuck or feel trapped and alone. We’ve all been there. Some of us are still there. We’re all human beings–it happens. The fear of rejection, the thoughts of being just another mental health resource, the conversations in my head of what if it's not good enough? Regardless, it's silly to be scared of taking risks, considering there was a time when we were young and believed we could do absolutely anything. Today, reading this book made me ask a few things: Where did that mindset go? Why did it leave? Did it really even go away, or did we push it aside?

So, now your turn. Let's imagine this:

Dig way deep down to the first sport that spoke to you. I want you to think strongly and push to remember that one moment, one game, one practice, or even that one afternoon as a youngster having a catch or kicking the ball around the yard. I want you to recall the moment it really clicked for you, the moment that convinced you, "ooh, this is it for me." I want you to truly captivate in on that moment. Because that's the moment you realize you fell in love with the game.

And when I say game, I mean simply the game. Not winning titles, not working towards a scholarship, not even being a teammate. You picked it up and said, "Hey, this is fun!”

So, for a lot of you sitting here right now, that's the day you never looked back from.

(Also, for those who didn't know, you just did a mental performance technique… not so scary, is it?)

One applicable reason for having athletes train their brain is to enhance their sport experience and love of the game. As I sit here today, not that teeny athlete anymore, I realize that confident little voice with so much genuine love for the game is still there. Always has been. Always will. The problem is that life has concealed that confident little voice behind today's perspective. Some don't want to admit it, but our phones haven't done us much good mentally at times, either.

We constantly scroll to see: who's doing what, who's with who, who's gonna like my picture, who liked someone else's picture, who got a new car, who got an athletic scholarship, who got a new job, who's on vacation, who's at the Yankee game (BTW, go Yankees). It is inevitable. Most of us do it every day. I'm guilty of it–I'm nosy as hell, I'll admit it! We know social media is going nowhere, and the odds of shutting down billions are slim compared to the odds of running with the billions. So I say, why not use it to our sports advantage too? The purpose is to use social media and technology as a positive item in an athlete's life rather than a negative.

I rewrote initial take-off posts a few times, searching for the perfect words, and the truth is, the perfect words probably won't ever exist. How many Damar Hamlin, eye-opening, 'puts life into perspective' type of sports moments do we need before it's one too many? I've gone back and forth attempting to solve this narrative of what I think people want to hear. Fortunately, I quit solving other narratives and wrote my own. Authentic, honest, real.

Yesterday, I included myself among the many who feel society's clearance, approval, permission—whatever you want to call it— is ‘needed’ to figure out where to start. Today, an unexpected inner-child moment gave me the send-it motivation I lacked, just to discover that I'd be searching forever if I waited for society to grant me authorization.

If there's anything you can take away from this nonsense, it's this:

We are human beings, too. We get excited, we have ideas, we cheer and shout, we have strengths, we feel supported, and we smile from ear to ear. This list can go on–let's call this zone 1. However, we also get nervous, we get confused, we huff and puff, we have weaknesses, we feel alone, we feel sad. This list can go on too–let's call this zone 2. Sometimes, there's a place where we sit smack in the middle of these zones. Other times, we're entirely so far out of both zones it kinda feels like those: "Games you can't win 'cause you'll play against you."

Remember before when I mentioned media being a positive rather than a negative? Well, we’re a bit different from what’s out there. We added in a dash of reality… cause you’re busy and we get it. We’ve taken technology and revamped it with a platform that stays comfortably within your lifestyle. It’s understandable that starting something new is tough, but aligning with your busy athletic schedule doesn’t need to be.

Have you ever thought about what you would tell your 5-year-old self if they were sitting right next to you? Think about it and keep reading. Taking risks is uncomfortable. It feels weird and kind of nerve-racking, but what if you could control your zone 2? Better yet, on your own time and at your own pace. Maybe even eliminate pieces of zone 2 and transfer pieces like zone 1 to your performance. The ability to not let the game play against you makes your uncomfortable zone more and more like a comfort zone every day. Before you know it, zone 2 doesn't feel so weird and overwhelming, and zone 1 starts happening consistently.

There's a saying, "You have to get uncomfortable to get comfortable." That's exactly what I would tell my 5-year-old self.

This is merely a taste of what working on your mental performance could do, and all you have to do now is hit send.

That being said, hi, and welcome to The Athlete Line.