There is no fooling myself: the training involved in becoming a Golden Gloves boxer will not come easy. As I step in the ring, toe-to-toe with another fighter — a fighter who has more hours of training and experience in her left pinky knuckle than I have in my entire body — my first reaction will no doubtingly be to stop, drop and roll.

Despite the odds, I’m going to do it. I’ve spent the majority of my life avoiding conflict like this. Well, not exactly like this. But in many ways, I’ve come accustomed to the path of least resistance. It makes for good peace of mind with my sensitive disposition; it makes my life easier. An easy life, however, doesn’t necessarily make it any more meaningful. And maybe, because of that I’ve been missing out on what Donald Miller calls a good life story.

What’s holding us back from being our very best selves? Is it avoiding conflict? Is it pressing that easy button? Is it ignoring that pang in your heart that says there’s got to be more to this life than just getting by? What if you did listen. What would it say?

You’re much more than you’ve ever known.
If you just take that first step
in finding your living story,
you’ll see what I’m talking about.

I’ve listened. I’m taking that first step, that plunge into the scary unknown that makes this life a nail-biter ball of excitement. It won’t be an easy year of physical, emotional and spiritual training. In fact many of you, at the thought of it, have cringed and lovingly said, “Why not another challenge?” But for some reason this is the arena for me to grow. This is how I will build strength in conflict and understand that I must believe in myself. This will be my living story. I won’t know how it will end, but this is the first step towards finding out.