the echoes of a coach's voice

As a 42-year-old who played every sport I could for the first half of my life, I still hear the echoes of my coaches 20 years later:

      "You are not a quitter, Leath. Keep going."

      "Hey, dodohead, get your head out of the sand and help your teammates."

      "Leath, when are you going to stop doubting yourself?"

Sometimes the words stung; other times, they pushed me to be more than I thought I could be. Some were encouraging; others were salted with profanity. 

I remember it all, and in many ways, those words have shaped me into who I am today. 

The late Billy Graham once said, “A coach will impact more people in one year than the average person will in an entire lifetime.” 

Just a reminder that the student-athletes are always watching. Your words will echo in their minds for the rest of their lives. 

Your echoes can be a blessing or a curse. You decide.