CAN
I used to say the word “can’t” a lot and while I was doing so I didn’t understand the effect it was having on me. The magnitude of such a small word is absolutely astounding. Just by uttering “can’t” I was telling myself that I couldn’t do something for some reason. I was giving power to that word and letting it limit my abilities. In a sense, I was giving up and letting “can’t” control my destiny. I was too ignorant back then to understand that I was setting myself up for failure just by saying “can’t”.
The first person I met who absolutely abhorred that word was my husband. I mean he would get downright furious if you said it. At first, I was taken aback and almost wounded when he loudly proclaimed that “can’t” didn’t exist and that he wouldn’t accept that excuse. It took some time of being around him and conversation to totally understand where he was coming from. He explained to me how “can’t” has such a negative effect on our minds and most people don’t even know it. He just looked at me and said, “You CAN”.
The second person to absolutely give no power to the word “can’t” is World Champion Team Roper Walt Woodard. I’ve been to several of his roping schools and I thoroughly enjoy reading his column in here. He is a positive force to be reckoned with and I can tell you that “can’t” doesn’t exist in his vocabulary either. In fact, it doesn’t exist in any winner’s vocabulary. If you don’t believe me, hang around some of the guys and gals who go to the NFR. I bet you don’t hear “can’t”….ever (and if you do I will be surprised).
This past year I have heard of some amazing people who also don’t accept the word “can’t” into their lives. There is a college barrel racer and breakaway roper who doesn’t let the fact that she is in a wheelchair slow her down. She races and ropes with the best of them. There is also a young boy who was injured in a roping accident who is working hard every day to make it back to where he was before the accident. I have seen their progress and results on Facebook. It is absolutely inspiring and amazing. These are the kinds of people who deserve our admiration and our deepest respect. They are proving what CAN looks like!
It’s amazing how the human mind works. If you allow negativity to creep inside (even in its smallest form) it can wreak havoc on your ability to overcome the smallest of obstacles. However, if you replace negativity with positive thoughts and goals it is amazing what you can accomplish. You CAN accomplish whatever you set out to do. You CAN leave behind the excuses of “can’t”. You CAN allow negative comments to slide right off when others say them to you repeatedly (after all, you “can’t” fix stupid – I may agree with that one).
The fact of the matter is this: the days are passing by quickly and there is only so much time we are allotted here on earth. If there is something undone for you go after it…what have you got to lose? Let “can’t” slip away and realize that you CAN!! We all only get one life to live so my thoughts are to go out and live it to the fullest. Will it always be perfect? No. Will it always be a winning outcome? No. Will it be worth it in the end? Heck yes! Get out there and do it. I know you CAN!!
