As Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints prepare to take on the LA Rams in the NFC Championship, it can be easy to overlook the adversity Brees encountered in his early career. We sometimes think athletes such as Brees have had an easy, gift-laden life. But, that is not the case.
The time requirements to be the best, the singular focus on a goal, and the toll on personal relationships cannot be undersold or minimized. As we go through Tim Grover’s book, Relentless, in our Dadly Daily Declaration, we’re learning about the lonely pursuit of being the best, or, as Grover calls it, a Closer.
In 2011, Brees authored his memoir, Coming Back STRONGER: Unleashing the Hidden Power of Adversity. One quote from his memoir sticks out:
The next time you’re up against a difficult time, you might not be able to see it as an opportunity to gain power and confidence, but it is. You have to prepare now to trust and have faith that it’s happening for a reason. And when it comes, you can lean into the adversity, put your shoulder down, push through it, and learn from it. Through those experiences, you will mold into the person you’re meant to be.
