In the Multi-Purpose Room (MPR) at Summit School in Ahwatukee, the air buzzed with excitement. Rows of chairs were filled with proud parents, siblings, and friends, all there to celebrate the 8th-grade graduation. The graduates, clad in crisp shirts and dresses, fidgeted with a mix of anticipation and nerves as they awaited their moment to walk across the stage. Among them was my son, Colby, who had come off an incredible basketball season as the starting guard on the state championship team in 7th grade and narrowly missed leading his team to a repeat championship in 8th grade.
The MPR had been a familiar place for our family, but today it carried a different weight. This wasn’t just another school event; it was a milestone. I glanced around the room, soaking in the scene. The Summit School banner hung proudly on the wall, and the faint smell of freshly polished floors mingled with the aroma of bouquets brought by parents. It was one of those moments you know you’ll remember forever—a blend of pride and nostalgia, tinged with the bittersweet realization that your child is growing up.
Then Mr. Pray, Summit’s golf and basketball coach, stepped up to the podium. As the coach who had led Colby and his teammates to their championship victory, Mr. Pray had earned my respect. His guidance on the court had shaped Colby not only as an athlete but as a young man, instilling discipline, teamwork, and resilience. So, when he began to speak, I leaned in a little closer.
“If there’s one piece of advice I can give you,” Mr. Pray said, his voice steady and warm, “it’s this: Don’t let the ANTs get into your brain.”
A ripple of curiosity moved through the room. ANTs? What was he talking about?
“ANTs stand for Automatic Negative Thoughts,” he continued. “They’re those little voices in your head that tell you you’re not good enough, that you can’t do something, or that you shouldn’t even try. They’re sneaky, and if you’re not careful, they’ll eat away at your confidence and keep you from achieving your potential. Don’t let them in. Recognize them for what they are, and push them out.”
The simplicity of his message hit me like a revelation. ANTs. Automatic Negative Thoughts. It was such a vivid and relatable metaphor, one that instantly resonated with me as both a parent and a person. I glanced at Colby, who was sitting with his classmates, his face a mix of focus and amusement. I wondered if the concept would stick with him the way it stuck with me.
Fast forward to today, and Mr. Pray’s words ring louder than ever. As I sit at my desk, working on my memoir, The Dog Story, or drafting query letters to agents, the ANTs creep in. They tell me I’m not good enough. They whisper that I’ll never stand out, that all this time and effort isn’t worth it. They’re persistent, burrowing into my thoughts like the worms in that old Pink Floyd song—only these are ANTs, and they’re just as insidious.
There are moments when the ANTs feel overwhelming, threatening to derail everything I’ve worked for. But then I remember Mr. Pray’s advice. Recognize them for what they are. Push them out. It’s not always easy, but it’s necessary. Because if I’ve learned anything through this process, it’s that the only way to silence those ANTs is to keep moving forward. To write another page, send another query, post another blog—to prove to myself that I am good enough, that I can stand out, and that this work is worth it.
Just like Colby and his teammates had to tune out doubts and distractions on their way to a championship, I have to tune out the ANTs to reach my own goals. And maybe, just maybe, one day I’ll look back on this journey the way I looked at Colby in that MPR—with pride, knowing I gave it everything I had.
What about you? Are there ANTs creeping into your brain, holding you back? Take a moment to recognize them, name them, and start pushing them out. The first step is knowing they’re there—and I promise, you’re not alone in this fight.
If it helps, here’s a simple reflection I pray when the ANTs eat into my brain:
“Dear God, help me to recognize the thoughts that do not serve me and to replace them with faith in my abilities. Grant me the strength to push past doubt, the courage to take the next step, and the wisdom to know that I am never alone in my journey. Amen.”
To everyone who has followed my journey with The Dog Story, thank you. It’s been a long road, but I’m finally reaching the destination, and I couldn’t have done it without my family—or without you, my readers. If you’ve enjoyed this blog, please consider liking, sharing, or subscribing. Your support helps me share this story with the world, and who knows… maybe one day, The Dog Story will be the book that inspires someone else to keep going.
When you subscribe, you’ll also receive my free How to Overcome Automatic Negative Thoughts worksheet—a simple tool to help you recognize and push out those pesky ANTs so you can focus on what matters most.
And remember: Don’t let the ANTs creep in—recognize them, push them out, and keep moving forward.