A valuable life lesson from Rick Reilly

ESPN sportswriter Rick Reilly is one of the most talented writers the sports world will ever read and his debut column is another powerful read.

His nearly lifelong alcoholic father passed away a few months ago and Reilly reflects on his fathers abuse, neglect, influence and a bedrock life lesson he learned in this impacting excerpt:

"Golf taught me the lessons my dad never did, including the best one: You play life where it lies. You hit it there. You play it from there. Nobody threw you a nasty curve or forgot to block the defensive end. I learned that my mistakes were mine alone, not my boss', not the cop's and, as much as I hated to admit it, not my dad's."

This perspective and resulting attitude that this lesson provides is imperative to success.

To read the full column, click here.