When There’s No Second Chance
Sometimes life gives you second chances. And sometimes… it doesn’t.
This past weekend, we were at the Kansas State Track Meet. My son Jack, a freshman, had qualified for three events: the 110 hurdles, the 300 hurdles (his signature race), and the 4x400 relay. He placed 14th in the 110s. His relay team? They took third and broke the school record.
But it’s what happened in the 300s that I’ll never forget.
Jack went into the meet with the second fastest time in the state. He had trained hard. He was focused. He was ready to bring home a medal.
My family had traveled in. We positioned ourselves at the finish line, ready to watch his moment. The gun went off. Then - another shot.
Someone had false started.
We scanned the track trying to figure out what had happened. An official walked over to Jack. We saw him put his hands on his head. And then… he walked off the track.
It was Jack. He jumped the gun.
Immediate disqualification.....
No second start. No second chance. Just heartbreak. Right there on the track.
As a mom, my heart shattered watching his season end like that. My eyes filled with tears and my stomach sank as we realized what had just happened. Everything he worked for - all the medals, practices, discipline, focus - came to an end in a single moment. And there was nothing anyone could do.
But what happened next reminded me what emotional intelligence and resilience look like in real time.
Jack didn’t spiral. He didn’t blame. He didn’t make excuses. He processed the moment and then pivoted.
He rallied for his team and ran the 4x400 to qualify his team for the finals the next day. At the finals he ran his fastest split of the year - 49.73 and the 4x400 team took bronze and broke the school record that had been held for over 20 years.
That’s emotional intelligence. That’s resilience. That’s real life.
There are moments when the stakes are high, the consequences are steep, and the outcome is heartbreaking. But those moments don’t define us.
How we respond does.
Sometimes you don’t get a redo.
But you always get a choice:
To crumble or to come back stronger.
This week’s reflection:
- Think of a time when you didn’t get a second chance.
- What did you learn about yourself?
- What would you do differently next time?
I’m recording a podcast episode on this story this week, and I’d love to include your voice. Shoot me a message or connect with me online. I want to hear your story of resilience - those moments where life didn’t give you a second chance, but you found a way forward anyway.
P.S. Oh….what’s next for Jack? Well he’s got a summer of traveling baseball ahead of him. But you can bet your ass he’ll be back next year - stronger, faster, and ready to take home that gold. That’s my boy.
