What is choosing right?

Everyday we have to make choices at home, school, in relationships and in regard to our future. You are making choices every minute of the day and most choices have a benefit and a cost associated with them. When considering a particular decision you need to evaluate the outcome from both sides. If the benefits outweigh the costs in choosing one option, you should do it, as long as your decision is a moral one.

For example, some youth think the only way which they can have fun is to get drunk with all their friends. I am here to tell you from my experience the benefits of getting drunk don't outweigh the costs. Trust me, I have been down that road and finally realized waking up on Saturdays and Sundays with a hangover didn't increase my chances of winning wrestling matches, making good grades and making other good decisions.

I would venture to say a majority of all the bad decisions which I have made in my life were a result of being intoxicated. Approximately two years ago, I decided not to drink that heavily ever again. But, I am 26 years old and do enjoy having a glass of wine with a 16-ounce filet mignon every once in a while. There is a big difference in legally drinking a small amount in moderation, and passing out with a bologna sandwich on your face. Choose right.

Besides being responsible with alcohol, what are other ways we can choose right?

I have seen drugs ruin many peoples' lives, including people I love. We are smart and know drugs kill people every day. We see the ramifications from drugs on the news and read about their damage in the newspapers. Not only can you lose your life to drugs, but you can also lose your life-long dream.

My opponent in the 2000 Olympic finals, Alexander Leipold, allegedly chose wrong and decided to take steroids, which is an illegal drug. Because of his bad decision he lost his life-long athletic dream. Why would anyone train for 25 years to accomplish a dream and risk losing it all because of one bad decision? I honestly don't know and it doesn't make sense to me. I pray none of you lose your life and your dream because of a bad decision involving drugs. Choose right!

There is a myriad of other examples of choosing right which include being sexually responsible (being a parent at 17 will make your dream much harder to accomplish), obeying your parents and teachers and treating other people the way in which you want to be treated. If you want people to be kind you and treat you with respect, oblige them with the same human courtesy. Choose right!

The last good decision which I challenge you to make is to put your academics before your athletics. We can't complete for the rest our lives; therefore, we need to prepare for life beyond sport. One of the best ways to increase your chances of becoming a successful adult is getting good grades, graduating from college and educating yourself in many aspects of life. Fortunately, God blessed me with good role models who showed me the value of making academics a priority. I challenge you to make your grades a priority - even above your sport. Study hard and choose right!

For me personally, I find it's easier to consistently make the right choices in life if I slow down and realize all the blessing which God had given me. In this day and age of cell phones, e-mails, voice mail, laptops and palm pilots, it is important to unplug them at times and recognize what a blessing each beautiful day is and thank the One who created it.

I am just as guilty as the next person of not doing this, but I'm really trying to simplify my life by following two rules. First, I love God with all my heart and second, I attempt to treat my neighbor as myself. In doing this, my life is filled with peace, love and joy which usually makes those decision-making situations so much easier. Even if you are not a spiritual person, all you have to do is: Plan for the future, yet live in the moment while choosing right!

Note: Brandon Slay can be contacted at www.brandonslay.com for camp and clinic, and speaking engagements.