Recently, I was asked to do a review, and though I was sorely tempted to simply ‘phone’ it in and write your formulaic, “This is awesome!” or “It changed my life!” something inside of me—call it the writer in me—demanded more, demanded a deeper dive. Why I couldn’t just keep it simple lies within my approach to things like reviews. I always start with asking, “How does this make me feel?” or “How does this inspire me?” Rather simple, but also profound, questions that can lead you to a simple two sentence response or in this case, several paragraphs. So, as I started cooking up my critique of a little thing called Scarlet Blaze Cheer (SBC), I found myself mulling over one of those two questions, “How does this inspire me?”

That question is one that can take our whole lives to answer. A profound sense of purpose is a driving factor for so many, and a force that helps us push on, even when the ‘going gets tough.’ For me, that question has become somewhat easy as of late. I mean you are talking to a guy who literally wrote a book—hopefully a whole trilogy soon—of novels inspired by his daughters. Those little works of art have my eldest daughter playing as a rough and tough warrior of the wilds, and that character was so easy to write. After all, it’s a breeze when your muse lives within your home, showing you little bits of their character with everyday actions. How they care for their sisters, how they smile and laugh at your stupid dad jokes, how they obsess over some oddly named K-Pop band called ‘Stray Kids,’ and most of all how they grow into a woman.

Yes, I have found my main inspiration, but I think my daughter is finding something that inspires her, and I couldn’t be more thrilled! Yeah, through our lives we may find many, MANY, things that inspire us, but—and I don’t want to sound to dramatic—I think she, and by proxy me, have found one of those truly inspirational things. One of those rare moments that gives you goose bumps; makes you feel like you belong—like you’re part of something more. That thing is SBC.

It’s not just a cheer team, or even a cheer squad; it’s a movement. A force to be reckoned with that will make you realize what truly matters; the next generation. At its core is the fabulous coach, Sara Moore, who is not only a dynamo of discipline but also a person that truly—and I mean TRULY believes in these athletes. At Sara’s side is her trusty strength and conditioning coach, Amy Walker, who helps round out the gaps in physicality. Together, I have watched these two take the timidity of my rather tall daughter and show her how to shine. They have pushed her to unlock the ability she has hidden within and go on to be one heck-of-a backspot. Truly, I haven’t seen my daughter more excited about a thing—ever! She loves SBC and looks forward to achieving more every practice; every event; every competition. I can see it written in her eyes; she has a passion, a driving force.

Of course, my daughter isn’t the only member of SBC, and I have watched—over the last season—the growth of many young athletes. I have watched them go on their own little journeys as they find what it means to be themselves. Just like my daughter, I think they have found that thing—that little spark—that drives us ever onwards. Watching all these young athletes so worked up over something gets me all in the feels. I mean, if you came to one of their cheer competitions you might have seen a crazy looking guy with half his face painted scarlet and the other half gold. Yeah, that was me, and yes that was because I was inspired by their greatness.

So, you might be asking, what makes SBC so unique? Maybe it’s the mascot, the phoenix, that ancient mythological beast that is a theme passed down from culture to culture, generation to generation. A simple concept, rise and rise again. Never give up in the face of adversity; never quit building yourself up even when it all burns down around you. Rise like the indomitable phoenix, and you will never be defeated. Or, maybe it’s the parents who want the best for their children. Who show up day-in-and-day-out to cheer on the cheerleaders. Or, maybe its just the athletes who make up this wonderful little thing called SBC. But, I think, and those who know might agree, it’s a combination of all those things.

Together that amalgamation of traits makes a little piece of inspiration here on this Earth. The thing that makes me want to keep on pushing forward, to keep on building myself up. Together SBC has become a powerhouse of a team, and like the phoenix they always rise to the occasion. So, when I ask myself, “What inspires me?” It’s simple, “Scarlet Blaze Cheer.”