Janet McCormick

A few seconds of courage can change the way you see yourself. This summer, Eloise and I both stood at the edge of something that scared us. Neither of us felt confident. We were nervous, full of doubt, and tempted to back away. What got us to jump was completely different. What happened afterward was exactly the same.

As parents, we spend so much time hoping our kids succeed that we sometimes forget what we signed them up for in the first place. This summer, I found myself standing on the sideline as both a coach and a mom, watching my seven-year-old face a moment that could have ended differently. What happened next reminded me that youth sports aren't just about making the shot. Sometimes the real lesson is learning how to miss it.

The way you talk about a game matters more than you think. There’s a big difference between “we’re going to lose” and “this is going to be hard.” One shuts things down. The other leaves room. This is a story about perspective, language, and why what you believe before the game even starts can shape how you show up when it matters most.