This story is so inspirational, positive and ongoing that it deserves a revisit from Only Positive News.

There are over 1 billion homeless people existing on this planet. The Homeless World Cup was established to put an end to this prevalent problem and to also showcase the skills of people who are often too busy struggling to survive. If you think this is a small, grassroots effort, think again.

This event has taken the world by storm. The first tournament began in Graz in 2003 with 17 national teams. At the 5th Homeless World Cup in Copenhagen in the summer of this year, 48 nations, 500 players were brought together for a once in a lifetime opportunity to represent their country. Melbourne is the host city for the upcoming tournament from 1-7 December 2008.

In preparation, a new Australian team was announced this week to compete. This is the first time a dedicated women’s competition will be held in the history of the Homeless World Cup.

“Apart from coming to Melbourne to represent my country, getting selected to be the Captain of the Women’s team is probably the best thing to have ever happened to me,” Toni Whelan had to say. Whelan was awarded Best Female Player of the 2008 National Street Soccer Championships as well.

Says founder Mel Young:

“The Homeless World Cup has demonstrated the power of sport to change lives, to change the world. The sixth Homeless World Cup in Melbourne is the pinnacle of the year round work by grass-roots football programs in 56 nations, which bring together over 30,000 players for training, to rebuild their lives and communities.

“The Homeless World Cup is growing fast, traveling to the far corners of the globe to engage people who are homeless, to change hearts and minds, and to pioneer imaginative solutions to address this key global issue.”

Australia’s Street Matildas take Uganda’s victory in their stride after their Homeless World Cup match at Federation Square yesterday. Photo: Penny Stephens

Pat McCormick was a four-time gold medallist in diving.? In 1984, Peter Ubberoff began sending his Olympic organizing committee members, which Pat was a part of, to local schools and corporations to speak.? Pat’s first speech was at Windling Elementary in El Puente, CA.? Afterwards, one of the teachers came to her and asked if she could help out any of the children in the school.? Pat began volunteering two mornings per week at the elementary school and began refining her process.? Pat focuses on 3 key attributes in the students: You have to Work, You have to Learn and You have to Surround Yourself with Winners.? Soon after Pat began volunteering there was a dramatic increase in better grades and kids staying in school.?

Today, Pat volunteers at the Workman High School in East LA.? These students are “at-risk” students who are struggling to graduate from high school.? Pat has been able to encourage them to stop joining gangs and stop using drugs.? Pat says that her passion of excellence comes from hardships of her own.? “My father died on skid row, and that’s the motivation I have.? I want to let everyone know if you have a dream and you believe it, you will find a way.? You have to surround yourself with winners, you have to work,” says Pat.? Today, several students have followed Pat’s guidance and have gone for the gold of high school graduation.

Whether you’re down in the dumps because of recent events in your life or you just feel like you need to do something different to change the way you think about yourself (and in turn how others view you) here are some habits everyone should adopt to boost their self esteem and confidence.

* Start a “Pick-Me-Up” File:? Get a box and fill it with all sorts of things that make you feel good about yourself.? Receipts from purchases that you saved long and hard for or that were rewards for meeting a goal, a checklist that you completed, pictures of yourself accomplishing great things (such as making your kids laugh or the first day of your new job).? Use this box as a something you can go to and sort through when you need? a “pick-me-up” as a reminder of all the great things you do in your life!

* Make it a habit to encourage yourself.? Positive thoughts lead to more? positive thoughts and actions which will help you feel? better about your self.?

* Look for the good in other people.? Yes, I know, you’re reading this to find out ways to look for the good in yourself, but to do so you’ll need to be more positive all around.? Looking for the positive in other people will help you have a more positive outlook on life in general which will naturally permeate to how you view yourself? as well.

Try all three at once or do one at a time.? Either way, even if you make one small change in your life today, you’re on your way to becoming a more confident person.