Because you're a fighter

​I watched the video earlier this week of Tiger Woods' daughter Sam introducing him to the World Golf Hall of Fame. I have long been a Tiger fan - but even given that, I was caught off guard by the emotion I felt listening to her present her dad to the audience.

I found myself wondering, what if I was inducted into a hall of fame. Any hall of fame. (Allow me to rule out the World Golf Hall of Fame as a possibility 🙄). Who would I want to introduce me? What would I want them to say?

I guess that's where the emotion came from. I'd want it to be my boys. I'd want them to say "because you're a fighter."

I think that's because "you're a fighter" isn't a lesson we teach or preach to our kids, but one they come to see in us. And if they somehow come to see "you're a fighter" as a hall of fame trait, well then, likely with few words, we managed to teach them one of the most meaningful life lessons of all.

Tiger has been a fighter. Like me, he'd be the first to say some of the fights he's had in life he's brought on himself. We all bring them from time to time. When we do, we can get buried in the criticism that comes from that - criticism from ourselves and from others - or we can rise and fight.

I'm grateful for every fight I've ever had in my life. And even though some of them have been ugly and painful, I wouldn't wish one of them away. Because in response to each one, I got a chance to rise and fight again.

And I have.

When Tiger heard Sam introducing him, I imagine he had to feel great pride. And not from what she was identifying in him, but because of what she was telling him and the world about herself.

Life is a fight. There's no getting around it. And when your kid identifies "you're a fighter" as your hall of fame trait, as a dad you'd have to feel like your teenage kid is as ready for life as you can get them.

You'd have to feel like being one of the greatest golfers ever was a nice road to travel to teach your kid one of life's greatest lessons.

Life's a fight.

We can get to feeling less than some days. Just know, if you are up and out of bed and fighting for one more day, some people see that as a hall of fame kind of deal.

Count me as one of them.