There’s nothing more exciting in sports than when a team that has been written off pulls together and makes a big push to come from behind and win an important game. Many iconic football and basketball stars have had this knack Guys like Joe Montana, Peyton Manning and John Elway have become legendary – partly from their ability to pull off the 4th Quarter Comeback. How about LeBron James. (Kidding – Just checking to see if sports fans are paying attention.)
Now, I don’t want to frighten anyone, but take a look at your calendar. See Saturday? Yes, it is General Conference.
What? You’re telling me that they have Conference on Saturday too? Who knew?!
Yes, there has always been Conference on Saturday, and, just to reward the faithful, Saturday sessions are usually better than Sunday sessions. Give it a try.
Where was I…
Oh, this Saturday is not only conference, but it is Q4. The first day of the 4th quarter. Yes, ’tis true – the year is 75% over. We are due for a flurry of holidays, and then 2011 will be gone. Over. Irretrievable. Before you know it, we will find ourselves waking up, laying on our backs, staring at the ceiling saying to ourselves:
“Argh! It is New Years and I didn’t get the things done that I had hoped for this year. And now it’s time to make the same stupid resolutions again – and most of my new resolutions will be the same stuff that I resolved to fix last year.”
Yes, the dreaded New Year’s self-assessment. So often it ends in failure.
2011: The year I stopped drinking the ambrosia that is Mt. Dew. (Then started again in June)
2011: The year we struggled with Family Scripture study the most in 15 years.
2011: Can you say “yo-yo dieting”?
2011: The year I did not meet my temple goals.
2011: The year my gym membership worked out to $60 per visit.
2011: The year I did not meet my financial goals.
Etc. (your mileage may vary)
(Just a note: Now is not the time to go all “forget-me-not patient and charitable with myself” – This is leading somewhere)
2011 has not been a particularly “kind” year to many of us. In fact, I know many who have struggled this year. If 2011 were to end this Saturday, I would gladly throw it on the trash heap, dust of my hands, gird up my loins, and start over.
Nope. Not this year. This year I am going to do something different. I am going to stage a late rally. Starting Saturday, I am going to make a 4th Quarter Comeback. You see, this year is not over yet. I have not yet heard the viking-clad woman singing. There is still time to get things done. There is still time to make changes. There is still time to improve.
I want to wake up on New Year’s morning, stare at the ceiling, and say “Hah. I kicked 2011’s butt.” And then go back to sleep. Later in the day, I want to make a whole new set of goals that build on what I accomplished in 2011, instead of the same old stuff.
Yes. I am shifting uncomfortably in my seat as I type this… How am I going to do this? Here is the plan:
1) Between now and Saturday, I’m going to review my year, and what I had hoped to accomplish.
2) This weekend I am going to sit at the feet of the prophets and learn what the Lord wants me to focus on.
3) Discuss these things with my EC and come up with a game plan.
4) Clear it with the Lord.
5) Spend the next 13 weeks – 92 days – getting it done. (I can do most anything for 90 days)
6) Look back at 2011 fondly, as a time where I flexed my soggy self-mastery muscles.
It is time for my 4th Quarter Comeback.
Who’s with me?
I’m there! Great motivational speech. Thanks!
I’m with you MMM! Fabulous motivation. My EC and talked about this very thing the week you posted this and we are gung-ho. Conference was just what we need to confirm our direction. Thanks for being so positive!
Great post. I do love “come from behind wins”
You are hilarious. I am contemplating using your blog in my talk in sacrament…If anyone has the faith to ask me.
That’s so funny that you say this because I have not liked the past few years and 2011 is right there with it but in the past month or so I am feeling like this year is making an upturn and I am loving it! I hope I can keep it up and I plan to be re-energized this awesome weekend of spiritual feasting! I just hope my kids will let me!
…I hope you don’t mind: I put a link on my blog to come and check out this post. I just wanted to share all your awesomeness. 🙂 Thanks for sharing your genius.
I am doing it with you! What a great post-thank you so much for sharing it. Conference ROCKS!
My New Year’s resolution this year was to make my bed every day until I had the baby, which was back in May.
I still didn’t make it.
Anyway, I am looking forward to conference this weekend. I love conference.
And I think it’s crazy the year is almost over! Maybe my new New Years resolution will be… to make my bed at least every other day. That may just be doable!! 😀
MMM…My hubby always says, “it’s okay to benefit from low expectations” :)(if you actually knew how high my bar was set you’d see the irony)
what a GREAT post! I am IN! A friend of mine linked this post on facebook, and I loved it SO much that I plagiarized it on my one blog. Just kidding – at least I think I am. I’m hopign it’s not plagiary since I gave you full credit and put a link to your site. (hope that’s ok, if not, let me know and I’ll take it off, and just re-say it all in my own words(which would be so much less effective)
GO COME BACK KINGS!!!
Awesome!
Count me in. I’ve lost 15 pounds this year, then stopped. I’ve kept steady, but am ready top finish this weight loss. By the end of the year I plan to be at or close to goal weight.
Next year I do not want “Lose Weight” on the goal list.
Nan
super great idea…although last year I decided to re-visit my new year’s goals and make them acheivable… like
– gain ten pounds
– read 1st nephi (again)… 😉
kidding aside, I love the idea of the 4th quarter comeback. Great idea.
-chococatania
I’m in-but with all the Halloween candy stocked on the selves it won’t be easy!
Count me in. Thanks for the pep talk. Now, where’d I put those resolutions…?
Linda: Be careful not to set that bar too high!
I’m glad my only 2011 goal was to watch the Saturday sessions of conference, with the benefit of TiVo , of course…
I am so with you! 2011 has been really tough for our family. On Dec 31st we moved into our unfinished house because our landlord thought we needed to pay for her retirement by doubling our rent. Our home had no heat, no running water, not even a sink. IT was hard. The economy finally caught up with my EC’s business and we have struggled most of the year. Then this summer, we’ve endured 4 deaths. 4! I am not going to miss this year.
However, I have learned lessons that have changed who I am and made me wiser (I think) and more compassionate. I think I’ll keep those. They were hard earned.
But I’m not throwing in the towel yet. There is more I can do, learn and become before I say goodbye to this long hard year. See you at Saturday’s conference (sort of) 😉
Excellent idea. I will gladly join you as soon as the busy holidays are over. Just kidding- I’m in. I feel that many people kind of write off the last three months of the year and sit in limbo until January. I loved you line about the $60 per visit to the gym.
My 2011 resolution was to have more fun. Yes, I’m serious; have more fun. But not just any kind of fun. Fun with my kids.
See, somehow I’d become way too much of “gotta get ‘er done” kind of parent without enough fun mixed in to keep it balanced. Dad’s the entertainer in our family dynamic and while I appreciate the role he plays as such, I lay awake at night worrying I’m missing out on a lot of valuable bonding time with my kids because I’m too concentrated on what needs to get done. So, I resolved to loosen up a little and try to recognize opportunties I can have more fun with my kids. It’s been a challenge for me (as much as say, losing twenty pounds might be a challenge to someone else) and I’ve had to consciously remind myself it’s okay to sit down and play a game of Uno when there’s still dirty dishes in the sink. But over the course of the last nine months, I’ve been able to see a change in the way my kids relate to me and it feels good and it feels right. I want to keep working on it so that it’s not so much of a conscious “I’ve got to do this” kind of thing but rather a “I want to do this” kind of thing. Doesn’t mean you’re going to find me on the floor playing Super Summer Barbie Pool Party anytime soon but I’ve at least discovered engaging in a competitive round of Thumb Wars once in awhile won’t kill me.
Thanks for the pep talk, Coach. Now… break!
My wife just posted her first comment! Hooray! – I think. (I’m gonna have to be more careful now)
Wow…what a great post!!! Love u. Hope I can help out with our family “comeback” and make my own also. 🙂
Your EC xxoo
Nice way to get the enthusiasm adrenaline flowing – I now want to scream out loud “COUNT ME IN!!!”
I think it is a great idea!
I feel like i’m sitting on a horse in a huge group on a hill and you are a dude with crazy warpaint on your face a la “braveheart”…what a rally cry. I guess i’m in. The thought of attacking some of my lofty goals is invigorating…i may just need a quick nap before I get started!
Awesome post! It’s got me thinking that I would like to feel some peace and contentment as the year comes to a close. I’m in!