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September 2005 Issue
I can do that
by Jennifer Shike
Everything you do now will mean something to you later in life.
When Suzie Humphreys shared her powerful testimony at a recent Agricultural Media Summit conference, I was reminded of the importance of our choices and the attitude that accompanies those choices.
Suzie, once a D-minus student, didn’t find success in life the easy way. She was “stupid, slow and ugly.” This didn’t stop her from answering every challenge with “I can do that.” This attitude enabled her to reach goals she never imagined for herself as a young woman.
She went on to become a secretary, a singer, a traffic reporter, an actress and a radio show host. The thing I love about Suzie is that she said “I can do that” even when she had no idea what she was doing. These experiences led her to a successful speaking career where she motivates and inspires people daily. Simply put, she says she makes people happy.
Every day we are faced with opportunities to approach life with an “I-can-do-that” attitude. When we choose to say yes to life’s challenges and do our best – regardless of whether we succeed or not – we will find ourselves moving in the right direction.
I remember the day that my dad encouraged me to judge livestock at our county fair contest. I just wasn’t sure I was cut out for the task at hand. As a 9-year-old horse kid, what did I know about judging pigs, sheep and cattle?
There was just something that made me want to go ahead and try when he told me I could do it. The first part of the contest went OK. I compared the livestock and marked my cards. Then, as I sat in the bleachers to prepare my reasons, I couldn’t help but wonder what on earth I was doing.
As I got up to give my market steer set, I began discussing great terms such as “more powerful through his gaskins” and “more width from stifle to stifle.” Yes, I was definitely speaking horse talk in the cattle barn.
When I was finished, the reasons listener gave me a few pointers on how to use livestock terms in my reasons. But then he told me he was very impressed and that I did a great job. No, it wasn’t perfect. But I survived it, and I had fun, too!
As I look back on my life since then, I can see how that one move has created so many opportunities for me. If I wouldn’t have started judging livestock, I wouldn’t have attended Black Hawk College, I wouldn’t have interned with the National Swine Registry and I wouldn’t have this job today.
I am thankful for the people who help direct me in life and encourage me to try things that may be out of my comfort zone. At our recent NJSA Board meeting, the board members and I discussed times when we stepped out of the box and what happened when we did.
From Katey learning how to walk in high heels for a county fair queen pageant and Jamey learning how to dance to “Jailhouse Rock,” to Matt singing on stage at the Ohio State Fair, it was fun to reflect on the times we tried something new. Often, we could see the good that resulted from it.
Each day we have the opportunity to wake up with a positive and willing attitude, or we can choose the opposite. The reality is that our choices will be reflected in our futures.
Each decision we make takes us down a different road. We can face washouts, roadblocks and dead ends if we make poor decisions. But if we approach those obstacles with an “I-can-do-that” attitude, we’ll find ourselves growing and stretching ourselves into more than we ever thought we could be.
School’s starting, pig shows are slowing down in some parts of the country (and speeding up in others), football games are underway and soon, many of you will be faced with new situations and choices.
Just remember that you have everything in life that you need to succeed. It’s not about grades, athletic talent, financial status or luck. With the right attitude and good choices, you can position yourself for an exciting and fun future!
