We were lucky to catch up with Charlie White recently and have shared our conversation below.
Charlie, thank you so much for joining us. You are such a positive person and it’s something we really admire and so we wanted to start by asking you where you think your optimism comes from?
A major transformation in my life occurred when I shifted my focus towards identifying the things that were working for me, rather than dwelling on the things that were going wrong. This change in mindset has enabled me to maintain a positive outlook, even in the face of adversity, and has allowed me to view situations from a broader perspective. I have come to realize that the hardships I have faced have been instrumental in my spiritual growth, serving as a touchstone for personal development.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
During the day, I contribute to the development of award-winning video games. However, I’ve also had the privilege of competing with the United States Beach Handball National Team in recent years. Beach Handball is an exhilarating sport that involves teams of four competing on a sand court with goals, akin to water polo on the beach. As an offensive player, I have the unique distinction of being the first American to have received three individual All-Star Team awards in elite club competitions, specifically for Best Left Wing, Best Pivot, and Best Right Wing. One of the greatest highlights of my career thus far was the opportunity to represent Team USA in The World Games hosted in Birmingham, Alabama in 2023. This was the first time that Beach Handball had a high-level competition of this caliber in the United States, and even the Olympic President Thomas Bach was in attendance for some of our matches. It was a tremendous honor to be part of the team, and although we placed fourth overall, we had an exciting match against Brazil in the pool play that ended with a golden goal, and a shootout loss to the current World Champions and World Games Champions, Croatia, in the semi-finals. Although I have recently retired from the sport, I still hope to witness the USA Team secure a gold medal in the Olympics someday!
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
1 – Believe in yourself and never give up. It’s easy to become disheartened when faced with challenges, but remember that persistence and dedication pay off. Set lofty goals and work diligently towards achieving them. With hard work and a positive attitude, you can make your dreams a reality.
2 – Find balance in all areas of your life. Take a step back from time to time and evaluate your actions and motivations. Remember the bigger picture and stay focused on where you want to go. Mindfulness is key in ensuring that your thoughts and actions align with your goals. By maintaining this balance, you’ll be better equipped to handle challenges as they arise.
3 – Believe in the power of synchronicity. The energy that you put out into the universe will come back to you. Progress can occur in small, almost imperceptible increments, or in giant leaps. Stay the course, and when you look back over time, you’ll see how far you’ve come. Trust in the journey and know that every step you take is leading you towards your ultimate destination. With hard work, dedication, and a positive mindset, you can overcome any obstacle and achieve greatness. Keep pushing forward and never give up on your dreams.
What’s been one of your main areas of growth this year?
I’m always learning to let go of what I can’t control and focus on what I can. In the face of adversity and also during times of success to maintain discipline and consistency. A phrase I often think of is: “Before enlightenment; chop wood, carry water. After enlightenment; chop wood, carry water.”
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.teamusa.org/usa-team-handball/athletes/charlie-white
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/charlie_white/
Image Credits
Paweł Jakubowski Maria Boldina
