Life is often hard. It's ok to learn that early. This year the Big Sandy Lady Pioneers lost every basketball game, and the Big Sandy Boy lost a game they wanted to win at the end. I loved watching both teams and am so proud of their improvement! The Big Sandy Pioneers who went to state in wrestling lost at state and did not place. The funny thing is in sports, very few know the feeling of winning at the end-most lose. But in losing, there are so many lessons learned; it's essential to discover NOT to be lost in that moment for the rest of your life. Understanding what needs to be addressed and improved is an important tool we all need in life.

We all fail. We shouldn't fear it! Sometimes the fear of failing paralyzes us. I don't want the students of Big Sandy to fall into that trap. They should learn from us.

As you know, I love quotes. Here are a few about failure! "I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work," Thomas Edison; "the one who fails and gets up is stronger than the one who never tried. Do not fear failure but rather fear not trying," Paulo Coelho; "you are not a failure, and you need to quit telling yourself that you could have avoided failing because no successful person ever avoids the pain in hopes for the gains," Author unknown; Failure is not a permanent experience, you must rise above it and choose to be better than you were a moment ago. Changing and growing is what makes you win," Author unknown; "Success is stumbling from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm," Winston Churchill; "My great concern is not whether you have failed, but whether you are content with your failure," Abraham Lincoln; We are all failures-at least the best of us are." J.M. Barrie; "Failure is success in progress," Albert Einstein

I am talking about failure. I've failed in the Mountaineer. Last week there were two glaring mistakes I should have found. I'm ok with people laughing at my failures because I laugh at myself. Each time I learn something about the business. If in my failure, however, I offend you, then I need you to tell me.

I hope the Big Sandy athletes embrace their mistakes and are encouraged, maybe even inspired, to go forward.

And lastly, I hope to encourage every person not to be afraid to try. If you've had a desire in your mind and heart to try something-TRY IT!