The Big Sandy Mountaineer -

It is once again that time of year when we take time to be thankful for what we have. This year instead of having just one day, one week, where we have an "attitude of gratitude," we will be talking about what we can be thankful for in November.

At Thanksgiving time, when we are asked and go around the table saying what we are thankful for, we will say the same things. We are grateful for our families and friends. We are thankful for our home. Some are even thankful for their jobs.

My first choice for this month would be the girls' volleyball team. I followed this team, this same team minus one girl, all last year. And this year, I went to most of their games. But they are a different team this year! It is true when anyone comes to watch a sports game, what is exciting is winning the game. It is, after all, the purpose of playing that game. And the girls have had a winning season, punctuated by earning a trip to play at Divisionals. However, that is not why I want to thank this group of girls. It is because I have watched them play, and I've seen their growth not only in physical skills but in the skill of self-confidence, determination, enthusiasm, in team effort being manifested through positive talk. I have seen them grow their confidence this year. Watching them shows me that I have been inspired to approach my daily life with the same determination, enthusiasm, and positive efforts. I haven't told them. I'm not sure what to say to them.

Don't get me wrong; I love watching a winning game. I love celebrating winning a game. It's way more fun than losing again, but when I look at the skills you'll need to excel for the rest of your life, those are the skills you've learned this year. You have learned the skill of hard work, the skill of enthusiasm, and the skill of staying positive. Those skills are very difficult to learn. Some never learn them; however, by knowing them and seeing the outcome of those efforts, you will be able to maintain those skills when you go through life. Most of the time, the general public gets up to do the same thing day after day after day, never experiencing enthusiasm or positivity, and some don't know hard work. If you can apply what you have learned this year to whatever you do for the rest of your lives, you will be very successful. You'll be able to celebrate way more than just winning a game.

So to the Big Sandy Pioneer Volleyball team, I want to tell you that you have inspired me. What you have learned this year it's more important than winning games. Thank you!