Need some Motivation? “Let’s Get Fired Up!”

Just the other day I was driving by a high school football field and saw the players getting ready for a much anticipated year, but beyond the football players practice, you couldn’t help but overhear the shouts of the cheerleading practice that was happening right across the street. As I listened to what the cheerleaders were chanting, I realized that they were doing a familiar cheer that we’ve all heard before. It went like this: “Let’s Get Fired Up! Clap, clap, clap, clap, clap.” Over and over again, the cheerleaders kept practicing this chant, with each cheer getting louder and each motion becoming more precise. As I heard this, my mind went back and thought of two things: 1). When I use to play basketball in high school, every game our cheerleaders would do this chant and as a player it was indeed encouraging to hear. They were trying to get people excited, pumped, enthused, and, yes, pardon the pun, “Fired Up” about what could happen next for our team. The idea was that if everyone got involved, enough people would get fired up and began to really root for the team. The fans then could positively Impact the Atmosphere and ultimately help our team get a Win! When we look at life, it seems like many people are looking for a Win. They’re in a game, a game called life; a game that shows no mercy, a game that is brutal, it’s unfair and often times we’re up against its odds. But when life knocks us down, we must be willing to get back up. Just like the fans at the game, we as leaders have the opportunity to Impact the Atmosphere. We have the opportunity to make or break someone’s day, an opportunity to make a difference in someone’s life.  We need to be excited about what will happen next, to get others involved and say the words “Let’s Get Fired Up” to a very dry, cold, and desolate world. That choice starts with each of us. 2). The second thing I thought of was the words “Fired Up”. Sure, we get fired up about football games, cookouts, museums, TV shows, competitions, food eating contests, lol, among many other things. But , in this life, what does it mean to be completely fired up about something? When I think about these two words, I think about a torchbearer. Before there were flashlights, there were people who would carry torches of fire and light the way for the people to see, because if anyone was fired up back then, it was these guys, literally lol. They would guide, direct, and lead people into the right direction. I went to my dictionary to see what the word torchbearer actually meant verbatim, it gave me this golden definition, “Torchbearer: One, such as a leader, who imparts knowledge, truth, or inspiration to others.” I want to ask you a question, “By this definition, are you a torchbearer?” I know many of us are about to start school or already did, and there is nothing I crave more than to be a person who impacts others with truth, knowledge, and inspiration daily. There are people in our schools, communities, and in our own lives who are looking for guidance, direction, and leadership, we must ask ourselves, “Will we be the person that is willing to take the torch and lead the way?” Each of us have a fire that burns within us, a fire of influence that can inspire, motivate, and impact others in a positive way, but for what purpose will this fire of influence burn for? We must remember that though some people are silent, their hearts are crying, crying out for a friend, will we be that friend? In this dark world, so many people are looking for the light, a fire of inspiration, if you will, when in truth, we as leaders are the ones who are holding the Flame. We must desire to be fired up, but not just about material things, but about the impact we make on someone’s life. We must be the “torchbearers” and carry the flame into today’s dark world, people who burn with passion, model the way, believe in the future, and share their spark.  This spark starts at the Heart. So no matter what you’re starting, whether it is school, college, a new job, a hobby, or even starting retirement, please know that each day is an opportunity where we can impact our atmosphere, we can positively influence someone’s life, and we can ultimately change our world. We must always remember to be a Friend, to Fuel the Flame. Be the Spark. Be Motivated. Be Influential and be the “Torchbearer” we were meant to be. “Let’s Get Fired Up!”