What is Your Purpose? (By San Rafael coach Jason Jacobson)

This is a fundamental question everyone should reflect upon and be able to answer throughout their lives. Why are you here? Why are you doing what you are doing? What is important to you? What is your passion in life? What are your dreams, your goals, your hopes, your ideals? What drives you to wake up every morning and give 100% of yourself that day?

See, you have to have a purpose. You have to define what it is you want in life. You have to have goals and dreams, that are both realistic and a stretch to make them attainable and worthwhile. With this, you will find many reasons to commit your heart, your mind, your body, and your soul to go after what you want in life. This helps you prioritize your life as there are only so many things one can do and might as well go after what is of most importance.

Write down your goals and dreams. Surround yourself with them. Keep them top of mind. Do everything within your power to make them a reality. Appreciate the journey along the long road and take solace in the moments. No one can make you want something. That internal drive must come from within. Others, like teachers, coaches, parents, friends can help provide the avenue, the road map, and the assistance along the way, however, it is up each individual to decide how much they want to give.

In track & field this season, I imagine everyone has a different purpose. Think about what you want this season. Do you want to compete for the first time, be able to run a certain time or achieve a certain mark, make a certain level meet, etc. Why are you out, what are you willing to give. Do you want to be good or do you want to be great. Do you want to give 100% of yourself during your allotted time? On Saturday morning at 7:05 am, three of our distance runners decided to meet in Novato for a session of hard hill repeats. 11 miles total of running with the warm up and cool down. What drove them, what motivated them, why did the other 10 or so distance runners NOT show up? Well, they know their purpose and they want it and they will be successful because of this effort and mentality.

The most successful people in sport and in life have a strongly defined purpose, a sense of what they want out of life, an unrelenting commitment to excellence, a level of determination, hard work, and dedication, and perhaps above all else, they truly believe that anything in life is possible. So this season, define your purpose, reach for the stars, show up everyday, take things one step at a time, give 100% of yourself, be passionate, give from your heart, believe and you will be successful.

Thank you,

--Coach J

"Never underestimate the power of dreams and the influence of human spirit. We are all the same in this one notion: The potential for greatness lives within each of us."

--Wilma Rudolph