A Letter to Our Dreams on COVID-19

To Our Dreams,

Four months into 2020 and what a year it has already been. This pandemic has rocked the world that we knew — and sometimes became complacent in — to its core. It’s human nature to question “Why” an experience happens. But while these moments are not always pleasant, they are often opportunistic. The most meaningful growth occurs during times of challenge, and these are the experiences that can ultimately strengthen who we are and what we stand for.

Our choice lies within, as does our greatness. Most importantly, our dreams lie within, no matter the uncertainty of tomorrow. Consistent action, sacrifice, accountability, perseverance, discipline, and an unwavering conviction to get better are needed to manifest our visions. When we cheat the process of getting better, we cheat ourselves. When we cheat ourselves, we cheat the gift of life.

We do not have to look far today for stories of inspiration, grit, vulnerability, grace, and competitive spirit. Take this evening’s WNBA Draft, for example.

Projected top pick Sabrina Ionescu from Oregon has re-written the history books with countless triple-doubles over her four years while lifting the program into the national spotlight. But her most defining performance might be how she is dealing with the sudden and tragic passings of her idol Kobe and mentees Gianna “Gigi” Bryant, Alyssa Altobelli and Payton “Pay Pay” Chester. Ionescu continues to teach us the power of acknowledging our grief and loss while at the same time working through it. She is a living embodiment of talent, passion, sensitivity, and service whom we’d all be wise to learn from.

Or let’s consider the story of Lauren Cox, who has been a dominant post player for the Baylor Bears. Diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at age 7, she wears a glucose monitor while playing to keep track of her blood sugar. But instead of being defeated by this life-long illness, she has used her voice and her platform to bring awareness, encouragement, and education to others fighting it.

While Ionescu’s and Cox’s stories are different, they remind us that life is bigger than ourselves, and our dreams are always worth fighting for. While we all pray for longevity, the real question becomes: Will we truly live our dreams and be of service to others with the time that we have left?

These two leaders have taught us that excellence in our craft is a marathon of meticulous preparation and repetition. And it is through the art of learning, unlearning, relearning, and persevering that we make the most of the opportunity that presents itself.

None of us knows what the future holds. But we can do something today to cultivate a better tomorrow. We never need all the answers to get started, just the right empowering questions and a mentality to never give up on ourselves. We must seek to find a way before relinquishing our visions, no matter how difficult or dark the situation appears on the surface.

Our dreams matter. Let’s use this time of self-quarantining to begin differentiating between what the world expects of us and what we expect of ourselves.

There are always unseen forces ready to support our dreams. So let’s ask ourselves, what are we truly doing with these precious moments today to manifest our visions of tomorrow?

P.S. If you are in search of a book recommendation, our team at The Daily Coach highly recommends Educated: A Memoir by Tara Westover. Born to survivalists in the mountains of Idaho, Westover was seventeen the first time she set foot in a classroom. Her family was so isolated from mainstream society that there was no one to ensure the children received an education, and no one to intervene when one of Tara’s older brothers became violent. When another brother got himself into college, Tara decided to try a new kind of life. Her quest for knowledge transformed her, taking her over oceans and across continents, to Harvard and to Cambridge University. Only then would she wonder if she’d traveled too far, if there was still a way home.

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