My hope for this country has and will always be that its people (citizens or not) realise that only by working together to solve problems can we improve our future. Following segregated agendas only segregates the community.
Of the long list of hopes that I have for Trinidad and Tobago, and moreso for our sporting fraternity, my most important is for people to respect themselves. If we learn to respect ourselves, we will respect our peers, neighbours, environment, athletes, officials and facilities. External appreciation begins with an internal appreciation of oneself. We are a country where people of all backgrounds, nations of origins, languages, religions and races can make a home and deserve the opportunities to make a positive impact.
We should all hope that the intention or aim is to raise honest individuals, whether it be leaders, athletes, coaches, to think and act for seventh-generation sustainability; vote and elect a president who will do the right thing and make the hard decisions; teach our young athletes, whether it be footballers or cricketers, swimmers or cyclists, to pursue their dreams.
It is hoped that more people take accountability for their choices and stop relying on others to solve their problems. This country is still our land of opportunity, but you may have to get out of your comfort zone to make a better life for yourself, to create more opportunities and to see the results in time to come.
My hope for our country is that it returns to a place where the Trinidad and Tobago dream can be obtained. My hope is that these November elections will herald the start of a new era with the right person at the helm.
There’s a saying that hopefully, “we elect leaders who are better than we deserve” and that says that while we may have a long way to go, mistakes made, challenges mounting, we deserve a leader in every area who is ready to lead the cause.
Nelson Mandela said, “May your choices reflect your hopes, not your fears.”
In sport, just as in life, it is our duty to carefully choose that which we want to give our energy to. Most people externalise their locus of control, fearing that circumstances or other people’s actions will define their lives when, in reality, that depends on the quality of their character. Not what happens, but how you respond. Not what is, but what you make of it.
For want of better, you have to admit what’s not working. You have to humble yourself. You have to ask for help. You have to learn and you have to accept. For anyone who commits to making an impact in an organisation or a fraternity, leaving your comfort zone is not as simple as challenging yourself to feel a little uncomfortable now and again. In reality, it’s more like stepping into a new life wherein everything is unknown and anything is possible and all of it is terrifying. When you truly step out of your comfort zone, you step into a new life, and with repetition and time, that becomes your new sense of familiarity. Always be aware of what you are conditioning yourself to be comfortable with.
What you are willing to do even if nobody claps is what you need to be doing. It is the true litmus test: if you are willing to do it without an applause, you are doing it for the right reasons. One day, recognition may come. It won’t matter. It isn’t the end goal. Certainty is an illusion of the highest form: there is nothing guaranteed in a life, so it’s in our best interest to do that which is not least risky, but most worthwhile.
One of the benefits of being in a field such as sports that other people are interested in is that you’ll connect with people of all races, income levels, educational backgrounds, religions and national origins. That kind of life experience can lead to a more fulfilling career.
There’s a quote from Jesse Owens that sums it up perfectly. “In the end, it’s the extra effort that separates a winner from second place. But winning takes a lot more than that, too. It starts with complete command of the fundamentals. Then it takes desire, determination, discipline, and self-sacrifice. And finally, it takes a great deal of love, fairness and respect for your fellow man, Put all these together, and even if you don’t win, how can you lose?”
Shaun Fuentes is the head of TTFA Media. He is a former FIFA Media Officer and also currently a CONCACAF Competitions Media Officer.