I’m a huge Chicago Bears fan. So, you can imagine my dismay when the Bears lost their playoff game against the Eagles when Cody Parkey’s field goal hit the goalpost—TWICE. If the kick was just a few inches to the right, it would have been good, and Parkey would have been a hero rather than a zero.

Life is a Game of Inches

As I recovered from my stress and dismay, I realized Parkey’s kick was a lot like life. Life is often a game of inches. Small things happen here or there that can change the course of our lives.

Getting into Graduate School

For example, when I applied to graduate school at Virginia Commonwealth University, I was put on the waiting list. I wasn’t in the top group. The only reason I got in was that someone else rejected their offer. I got in by inches.

Going to graduate school at VCU changed the course of my life. I got paired with an amazing mentor, who taught me how to do research, think critically, and write clearly. I’m thankful every day that I made it in.

Give Your All

Because life is a game of inches, it’s in your best interests to give everything you have each day. Even seemingly little things could be of great importance down the road. You might start up a conversation with someone who ends up giving you a job opportunity later on. That extra bit of studying you do could make the difference between getting into school or being rejected. The extra money you invest each month in your 401k could be the difference between a comfortable retirement or not.

Don’t Leave Anything to Chance

Don’t leave anything to chance. There are so many parts of our lives that we don’t have control over. The things we do have control over—we owe it to ourselves to give our very best. Don’t hit the goalpost.