Three reason why Jarryd Hayne should inspire us all!
Jarryd Hayne this week made the shock announcement of signing with the Gold Coast Titans. After a stint in the NFL, then making the decision to attempt to play for Fiji in the Olympics, which did not come through. He has now landed at the Gold Coast Titans. This is a story of adventure and inspiration. I know from living on the Gold Coast that everyone has been talking about his decision all week. I want to go watch the Titans now, to see Jarryd Hayne play and I’m not even a big NRL fan. There has been though some people who have criticised Hayne for his decision to go to the Titans claiming he should have returned to the Parramatta Eels and that he is just chasing the money. Now I think that’s pretty low to have a go at Jarryd Hayne about his decision to go the Titans and I think there is so much we can learn from Hayne.
He can’t be accused of living an average life
People can make all sorts of silly accusations like he is a gold digger, not loyal and inconsistent. There is no way at all people can accuse Hayne for not chasing his dreams! He has had the guts to face adversity, pursue his dreams and live an adventurous life. People who do significant things will always have haters. I look at the life Hayne is living and I am inspired by it! He dreams big and commits to pursuing his dreams.
I read a quote this week by Nelson Mandela that said, “It’s always impossible until it’s done.” I remember when Hayne at his pinnacle of NRL made the shock announcement that he was dropping everything to pursue a dream of playing in the NFL. So many people came out saying that it was impossible for him to do. That he had no chance of doing it. While people were saying it was impossible Hayne was out doing the hard work to make something that seems impossible possible! He proved all his critiques wrong by getting signed with an NFL club! The impossible had become possible.
What is the dream in your life that people would say is impossible? Hayne is just one example that even when everyone says you can’t do it, you can! Hayne did not just wake up one morning and magically be signed with an NFL team. He puts in hours upon hours of hard work! There is no such thing as an overnight success. So much hard work is put in behind the scenes when no one is watching. So my question is what kind of person are you going to be in life? Will you be the person sitting at home saying that’s impossible or will you be the one showing everyone that the impossible is possible?!
He’s turned dreams into memories
I don’t know Hayne personally but there is absolutely no way in the world he would have been able to achieve and do all that he has done so far with his life if he had not of put in lots of hard work. There is a difference between having a dream and pursuing your dreams. It’s easy to dream big dreams but it’s another thing to pursue those dreams! It takes boldness to pursue dreams. When we start to live an adventurous life all of sudden people start to have opinions of what we are doing. They are not always nice opinions too. Just look over social media from this week about Haynes decision to come to the Titans. If our dreams are going to become memories we’re going to need thick skin and a tender heart.
To turn dreams into memories hard work is necessary. Hayne now has memories of already a very successful NRL career, a professional NFL player and attempted to play in the Olympics. These were all once DREAMS but are now MEMORIES! To do this he would have had to put in a lot of hard work, discipline and commitment.
So what is that dream you have but now need to get off the couch and start pursing that dream? Let’s not come to the end of our lives and look back and wish we had of pursued our dreams. Let’s create many memories with our lives.
He's viewed challenges as opportunities
Life is full of adversity and hurdles. There is no point complaining about it but embrace it and make the most of the situations we find ourselves in. It’s publicised that Hayne grew up in government housing and faced adversity as a child. He his adversity as motivation to not stay where he was in life. He openly talks about his desire to buy his mum a house and how the NRL was his opportunity to do that. I think adversity can be fuel to pursue our dreams.
I’m not sure what adversity you are facing today. All I know is that we are at the end of the day responsible for our lives. Let’s take responsibility for our lives and live with passion and determination. We do have a decision as to how we will look at each situation in our lives. I want to be a person who views adversity as opportunities to grow and develop. Perspective is everything.
When we face resistance and challenge, will we crumble or will we rise up. We can’t let our emotions dictate how we live our lives. Often we won’t feel like doing what we need to do. That’s were some grit and determination come into play. Hayne has demonstrated this all throughout his career and life!
So in conclusion let’s be people who can’t be accused of living an average life, let’s turn dreams into memories and view challenges as opportunities. We’ve got one life, let’s do something significant with it. Don’t be a Jarryd Hayne hater. I think he should be commended for all that he has done so far and will continue to do!
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