Everyone knows the main players of every team. The ones who start the game and the others who substitute frequently. But what about the jerseys being occupied at the end of the bench.

These are the bench warmers. The ones that sit through the wins, losses, and blowouts. They listen to the yelling and the praise. They get any of the benefits there are, but don’t get the opportunity to show their talent, no matter how good or bad they are, until it doesn’t matter anymore. They go in and out of every practice, every bus ride, and show up to every game.

So what’s the point? Why would someone put so much time into something where they get no personal reward and have no impact on the team?

I believe it’s because of passion. When there’s something you really enjoy doing, you will do it because you don’t care what the outcome is. You become a part of something. You feel like you are actually becoming somebody, rather than sitting back and being nobody.

I believe it’s because of involvement. if you are involved in an activity for so long, you don’t want to see it go. When it’s a part of so many years of your life, you don’t want to know life without it.

I believe it is because of your teammates. You want to be a part of their success because they are more than just a team, they are good friends. They are family. You want to be close to them, pushing them and encouraging them until the very end.

Whatever your reason might be for being on the team, don’t let other people make you think you should quit, unless that is what you want. Don’t look down on yourself if you are a bench warmer right now. You have so much time to succeed and work your way up. As major league baseball player Leon Brown once said, “Do not get angry because others question what you believe, be calm and loving, for anger is the root of a faulty belief.” You must do what you want, even if that means you have to sit on the bench. You can’t please other people to feel better about yourself.

Believing in yourself is the first secret to success!