de·ter·mi·na·tion
dəˌtərməˈnāSH(ə)n/
noun
- 1.firmness of purpose; resoluteness."he advanced with an unflinching determination"
synonyms: resolution, resolve, willpower, strength of character, single-mindedness, purposefulness, intentness;
2.
the process of establishing something exactly, typically by calculation or research.
"determination of molecular structures"
If I can sum up one word throughout my whole swimming career, this would be it. My high school swim coach instilled this word into my vocabulary at an early age when she noticed something special in me. I didn't quite understand the word until she taught me what goals were and how to achieve them. When I was in elementary school I was setting goals before I knew that's what I was doing. I can remember when I was in 5th grade and I had a club meet after school. This particular day I was sent home sick with a fever of 100°. I pleaded with my mom to let me swim. I thought there was no one that could stop me from swimming that night. She told me that I can't let you swim if you have a temperature. So I said, "take my temp," and she did. Well, I must have willed myself better and it was normal. I ended up swimming that night and achieving all best times. Determination. One more story. I was a senior in high school when I got a horrible sinus infection. I remember waking up and feeling horrible. It was a Saturday morning tri-swim meet. We were swimming 2 teams that morning. I couldn't move. I walked into my parents bedroom and telling them there was no way I could swim. So, my parents and brother went off to the meet without me and my 11 year old sister took care of me on the recliner. I am in and out of sleep covered with blankets when the phone rings. My sister answers and says, "can you talk on the phone?". I take the phone and in some fashion say hello. It was my swim coach. "Scott, I know you feel like shit, I wouldn't ask if I didn't think we would win, but Scott we might lose the meet if you don't swim. Can you do it if you swim the 50 free and 100 back?" Long pause. "Yeah I can do that," I said. My dad came home, called the Dr. to get me in that morning in-between events, and drove me to the pool. Warm ups were already over, the meet had already started. I went in to change and get ready for the 50 free. I came out just in time to walk to the block, tell the official my name and start the race. At this point, the only thing going through my mind was, "well, how much worse can I feel, it's only 2 laps." Wouldn't you know I came in first, beat my team mate who was a sprinter and got a best time. My team mate was a bit baffled. I had help climbing out of the pool and my dad rushed me to my Dr's appointment. I finished up there, confirmed it was a sinus infection and rushed back to the pool in time for my 100 back. Same as before, I came in first and got a best time. We won the meet. Determination. That won me male swimmer of the year for my team. There is something that happens when you put your mind to it. You hear it all the time. People doing things that make you shake your head that they should be able to achieve. I can't really tell you how I did that in my condition. I knew mentally I prepared myself to do what had to be done. Like the definition states, firmness of purpose.
Now, I bring that same determination to my lifestyle change today. I have changed my whole diet. I cut out coffee, I stopped drinking soda, I eat 100 calorie non fat yogurt, carrots, and low fat skim string cheese. Also snack on gold fish, because for 52 per serving you can't go wrong. It's the 'snack that smiles back'! In the 3 weeks since I've started I've lost about 5 pounds, plus or minus 1 pound. I'm starting to feel better and I'm not as stressed. I'm determined to keep going and not to quit.
How do you define determination?
Scotty
