A Perfectly Timed Message

Another birthday celebration -- this time in France!

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  I woke up at 2 this morning. Not for a mid-night snack. Not to get up and go to the bathroom. And not for a glass of water.

  For good.

  I didn't plan on it that way, of course. But jet lag is still rearing its ugly head, so my eyes popped open at 2am like it was nothing. After roughly three hours of sleep.

  I turned on the BCS Championship game, and hoped that would entertain me for a while. But after Brent Musburger ever-so-gracefully talked his way into the realm of creeper status, and Alabama scored touchdown after touchdown, I had had enough football.

  I tried sleep again. But to no avail.

  So I flipped on a movie, and thought that might put me to sleep. Nope.

  When it became clear that sleep would escape me the rest of the morning, I started brainstorming. What could I do? Practice isn't until late this evening, so I have ALL day to kill. And when that day began before some had even gone to bed, no question, it was going to be a long day!

  What is the first thing I always do when I have time and energy on my hands? Run!

  I checked the weather. It wasn't too cold, and it wasn't too windy. Even though it was still dark, outside I went!

With Nana and my nieces -- minus one.

  Instead of my usual music playlists, I thought I'd turn on a podcast this go 'round. I had several of  Jillian Michaels' podcasts to catch up on, and I was in the mood to stimulate my mind a little, instead of drowning myself into music as I ran.

  One segment in that particular podcast struck a nerve. I had heard the ideas before, but it stuck with me as I ran. It was titled 'Failure Role Models'. And they talked about the many famous role models who had failed at various points in their careers (Bill Gates, Michael Jordan, Thomas Edison, Steven Spielberg, Steve Jobs, etc.).

  The second point they stressed during the segment was how important failure is in finding success. Through your failures, you learn. You alter your approach. You better yourself. You succeed.

Gearing up for a run in the cold!

  So many of us are afraid of failure. If you stop trying, simply to avoid failure, you're failing. All those people listed above, took a chance. They put their necks on the line over and over, til their goals came to fruition. And now look how they are regarded.

  'There's only one true failure, and that's never trying.' If you never try, you'll never accomplish anything. It's the safe way to live. Not trying. Not engaging.

  People fail over and over, all around us. Everyday. So it shouldn't be that scary. They pick themselves up, brush themselves off, and try again.

  That was my take-away during this morning's run in the dark. So I guess I can look at my jet lag as a blessing in disguise (for today, anyway). Because I don't know when I would have gotten to that podcast otherwise!

  As a new year has gotten underway, that is something I want to keep at the forefront of my life. Trying, engaging, putting my neck on the line, possibly failing -- both off the basketball court and on.

  You should try it too!

LINKS:

Jillian Michaels Podcast 11/10/12

Losing the Complacency, & Recapturing the Competitiveness

Back to game action.

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  Imagine playing a game you've played countless times.

  But this time, you're a step slow. Your reactions are a little off. You have no feel, or rhythm, for the game. And you feel like you could get hit with a flying elbow at any moment. That's how I felt back on the basketball court, until recently.

  And then I felt things click. Something switched in my head.

  That's what pre-season is for. To get your body in the condition to play physical games week after week. To acclimate to your teammates and develop team chemistry. To rediscover that feel for the game. And also, maybe most-importantly, to recapture that competitive spirit.

  Since I arrived back in Dunkerque nearly three weeks ago, my teammates and I have played in five 'friendly matches'. But they've hardly been friendly.

  It's the first real game action many of us have seen since last April or May. It's not a running workout, shooting, or weights, where there's only one person to worry about: you. It's not pickup, where it's just for fun (for the most part), where you can turn it off and on as you please. It's not practice, where you're working towards a common goal with your teammates. It's a game. And people are trying to beat you. (And I swear, sometimes, trying to hurt you.)

  They're competing.

  Until I felt that switch flip, I felt out of sorts. Like I was being 'out-competed', so-to-speak.

No more shooting workouts. Where it's just you & the hoop.

  We were in a tournament this past weekend in Strasbourg. I was getting beat in situations I wasn't used to getting beat in. I was a step behind. I was reacting, instead of making my opponent react to me. Granted I was still adjusting to the speed and the intensity of the game. But I wasn't competing.

  After my fourth preseason game, I realized I was coasting, and not thinking competitively. I suppose was still in pickup mode, whereas everyone else on the court was already in regular season mode.

  There's such a thing as being too comfortable. I think that's called complacency. Being complacent is not the way to play basketball, or any sport for that matter. If you want to be successful, anyway. Complacency leads to unequal playing fields where you'll always be at a disadvantage.

  When I realized my error in thinking, or preparation, that's when it came together for me.

  I think I got a little ticked -- that I allowed myself to play like that. Playing mad isn't necessarily a bad thing, as long as it doesn't hinder you, that you don't stop thinking.

Competing against yourself only does so much.

  I decided to challenge myself, change things up a bit. Play more aggressively than what my 'norm' is. And you know what, things started to happen. I was the aggressor, instead of the reactor. I played freely, instead of over-thinking. Sure, I got a couple of fouls I don't normally get, but oh well. You get five of them. So you better use a couple.

  Your natural demeanor and personality are who you are at the core. In my opinion, you can't really change them much. Demeanor and personality are ever-present on the basketball court, as well as off.

  I'm naturally a laid-back, easy-going person. And more often than not, that sort of demeanor doesn't translate into a successful basketball player. You can't be too nice on the court. If you are, you'll be taken to school every time you step between the lines.

Time to compete!

  So you work to develop your personality on the court, all the while retaining the person you are off the court.

  It sounds a lot like pushing outside of comfort zone. Being a little bit of something you're not (while on the court), all in the name of being successful. The easy thing to do, is to slide into what is comfortable. Then we're back to being complacent. It requires more focus

  If I've learned anything from my three weeks of pre-season thus far, it's this:

- Be hungry.

- Remember why you play.

- And most importantly, competing is never easy. It's hard work!

  Two more friendly matches to go til the regular season! Including one tonight against a Belgian team. I'll keep working!

My Philosophy: Be Versatile

Blogging, the old fashioned way.

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  Last week I had the chance to sit-in on a Trainers Round Table where various professionals discussed their training philosophies. Although I am not a trainer, the topic got me thinking, and thinking broader than just the scope of training.

  Not just, what is your training philosophy? But, what is your philosophy, period?

  How do you live?

  Here's mine: Be versatile. Be well-rounded. Expand. Get better.

  Continue to challenge yourself, your body, your mind.

  While my life may lean heavily towards athletics, and more specifically, basketball. I am working at broadening my horizons, and learn new things. My blogs are a reflection of that. I have variety of topics that I'm genuinely interested in, and continually trying to learn more about.

  Be versatile.

  That's how I play basketball. That's how I train.

Bird & Magic: Stat-sheet-stuffers.

  In basketball, I grew up thinking the more versatile I could be, the better. Partially, because I thought that was the most fun way to play. I thought it was boring to go stand in the post, and wait for a guard to pass you the ball. So I developed guard skills. And didn't have to wait for anyone. I focused on my entire game. Not just shooting, or any other particular aspect.

  I have always admired players who could 'stuff a stat sheet' as they say. Players who could do anything on the floor. Players like that, those are the players you're unable to forget. That's how I tried to play as a kid, and that's how I continue to play now.

  In training your body, if you continually work the same muscles, in the same manner, they wear down, grow tired, and injuries may occur. The exercises become less and less effective. At the same time, the muscles you neglect, weaken. Not to mention, you get bored doing the same things over and over.

  Whereas if you train your body in a variety of ways, you're constantly using and developing different muscles. Your body will hold up better, and be more efficient for day-to-day use, and wear and tear. Take a different class. Go for a swim. Spice your workouts up a little!

Do something out of the ordinary!

  In every regard, it's easy to do what we are good at, and ignore our weaknesses.

  I naturally can run longer distances better than I can sprint. So I force myself to do a sprint workout at least once or twice a week in the off-season in hopes that I will become better at it (as well as reaping the benefits of interval training).

  If there is something you want to learn to do, read about it! If you are curious about how something works, research it!

  By working to become versatile, weaknesses can turn into assets.

  On the flip side, there are times when I come across an opponent on the basketball court who clearly has ONE thing she does exceptionally well. And she's unstoppable at it.

  Just like there are people who are extremely successful in the business world because they can do one specific thing better than anyone else. 

  So sometimes I question, is it better to excel at just ONE thing, or proficient at MANY?

Make yourself anything you want!

  Be a 'Jack of all trades', or specialize?

  With all of my worldly experience (tongue firmly implanted in cheek), I still think it's a no-brainer. The more versatile you are, the better. In every aspect. We don't want our brain, or our muscles, wearing out from doing the same thing over and over again, do we?

  Be versatile. 

  We all have different talents, and different interests. And we're never too old to learn something new, or try something new. We can better ourselves, and redefine ourselves at anytime. Being well-rounded keeps things fresh and new, and exciting (no ruts!). It constantly challenges your comfort zone.

  People may have put me into the 'she's a basketball player' box long ago. And that is definitely true. But I think there are several other boxes I can wiggle myself into as well. Don't be put into one box. Be undefinable.

The Show Goes On

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Power of thought.

  The basketball season in France is rapidly coming to a close. With four games left to be played in roughly four weeks, I'll be packing my bags for the US in no time. But til then, it's important I make the most of these next four weeks. For reasons I really can't delve into in the blogosphere, it's becoming increasingly obvious that my last weeks in Dunkerque will be filled with character-building moments.

  I usually am a "glass is half full" kind of person. But sometimes it can be pretty difficult to find a silver lining, and keep your attitude upbeat. During those times, I often take to a collection of thoughts and quotes I've gathered throughout the years, to help me find the brighter side of things.

  I'm not quite sure when I decided this, but at some point along the line, I came to the conclusion that attitude is everything. Your thoughts and your attitude can make or break a situation. It can turn the best of times into unforgettable moments. And likewise, can turn a difficult situation into something you learn from, that
ends up not being as tough as you originally thought it would be.

  Here are some of my favorites. Skim through them, see what hits a cord with you, and send me your favorites if you have any!

Determination/Work Ethic:

"To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift." - Steve Prefontaine 

"There's no on/off switch. You have to do it everyday." - Unknown 

"Hard work without talent is a shame, but talent without hard work is a tragedy." - Robert Half 

"We are what we repeatedly do, excellence then is not an act, but a habit" - Aristotle 

"Win or lose you will never regret working hard, making sacrifices, being disciplined or focusing too much." - John Smith 

"Don't count the days, make the days count." - Muhammad Ali 

"Desire is the most important factor in the success of any athlete." - Willie Shoemaker 

"I've failed over and over and over again in my life...and that is why I succeed." - Michael Jordan 

"Ambition is priceless..." - Wale 

"And if you fall, stand tall & come back for more." - Tupac 

"If it is important to you, you will find a way. If not, you'll find an excuse." - Unknown 

"Do things with passion, or not at all." - Unknown 

"Never give up on the things that make you smile." - Unknown

Going Outside Your Comfort Zone:

"A comfort zone is a beautiful place, but nothing ever grows there." - Unknown 

"If you are afraid of failure you don't deserve to be successful!" - Charles Barkley

Positive Thinking:

"Change your thoughts and you'll change your world." - Norman Vincent Peale 

"Keep your thoughts positive because your thoughts become your words. Keep your words positive because your words become your behavior. Keep your behavior positive because your behavior becomes your habits. Keep your habits positive because your habits become your values. Keep your values positive because your values become your destiny.” - Gandhi 

"Whether you think you can, or you think you can't. You're right." - Henry Ford 

"What kind of energy are you putting out into the world? There is nothing in between." - Unknown 

"What we focus on, we empower & enlarge. Good multiplies when focused upon. Negativity multiplies when focused upon. The choice is ours: which do we want more of?" - Julia Cameron 

"Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don't have, you'll never, ever have enough." - Oprah

Progress in Action:

"Don't miss your promise being passive. Passive people get passed up." - Unknown 

"Every morning in Africa a gazelle wakes up and knows it must move faster than the lion or it will not survive. Every morning a lion wakes up and it knows it must move faster than the slowest gazelle or it will starve. It doesn’t matter if you are the lion or the gazelle, when the sun comes up, you better be moving." - Maurice Greene 

"We write our story a chapter a day with the deeds we do and words we say. Make your story a good one today!" - Unknown 

"Who is on your team? If they are not adding -- they are subtracting. Cut the weights from your wings so you can fly." - Jason Lester 

"Success is not permanent & failure is not fatal." -Mike Ditka 

"Do your little bit of good where you are; its those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world." - Desmond Tutu

Staying in the Moment:

"We seem to be going through a period of nostalgia, and everyone seems to think yesterday was better than today.  I don't think it was, and I would advise you not to wait ten years before admitting today was great.  If you're hung up on nostalgia, pretend today is yesterday and just go out and have one hell of a time." - Art Buchwald 

"Yesterday is history.  Tomorrow is a mystery.  And today?  Today is a gift.  That's why we call it the present." - Babatunde Olatunji

Miscellaneous:

"No matter what accomplishments you make, somebody helped you." - Althea Gibson 

"Always give without remembering & always receive without forgetting." - Brian Tracy 

"Friends who believe in you when others do not, friends who tell you can do it when you fear otherwise, friends are a gift" - Unknown 

"Never make excuses. Your friends won't need them, and your foes won't believe them." - John Wooden 

"If you're absent during my struggle, don't expect to be present during my success." - Will Smith 

"Just because you CAN doesn't mean that you WILL. You must decide for yourself to take the necessary actions in order to achieve results." - Unknown 

"You can easily judge the character of a man by how he treats those who can do nothing for him." - James D. Miles

  But these inspirational sayings can only get you so far. At what point do you turn your thoughts and attitudes into your actions? Granted, thinking positively is a HUGE step, and one you must take. However, making your thoughts your actions is the biggest jump (and the biggest question mark) in my mind. What is the process of making that happen?

  Good intentions are great, but without action ... they're just that -- intentions.

Lupe Fiasco - The Show Goes On (take a listen to the third verse, in particular)

  Lots of things to think about today. But we're making progress! 

  ~ Sabrina

Going Outside Your Comfort Zone

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   It's always interesting coming into a team for the first time in a brand new season. Usually, the foreigners (me!) are the last players signed, and thus, also the last to arrive for training camp.

  The other girls on the team have been practicing together for a few weeks. The dynamics are already set: who the leaders are, who the quiet ones are, who works the hardest, and unfortunately, who the slackers are (every team has em!).

Our gym this season!

  Your job is to try to learn the make-up of the team as quickly as you can, and then integrate yourself within your new team.

  This season, it's becoming quite clear to me that this team is going to put me outside of my comfort zone on a regular basis.

  Three weeks ago, when I walked into practice for the first time, the thing that struck me most was how QUIET everyone was; both on the court and off.

  My initial thought was that my new teammates were just nervous to speak English to me. But after getting to know everyone a little bit, they're just a quiet group of girls. Period. Add me, a shy, quiet girl myself, and we're have the makings of a very long, interesting season.

A busy day on the North Sea and its beach!

  There's one thing I do realize though: for a team to be successful, there has to be a leader. I've been on enough teams, and played enough basketball to know that there has never been a successful team that didn't have a vocal leader.

  When I have been in leadership positions prior to this season, I have always chosen to lead by example. I'll work hard, and if you're with me, you'll follow suit. If not, I'm not going to try to drag you along.

  So I can either stay in my comfort zone, lead by example, and HOPE that another, more-vocal leader emerges (and when one doesn't, most likely suffer through a long, unsuccessful season). Or, I can push myself and be the vocal, 'rah-rah' type of leader that my team needs.

  Now I'm no dummy. I want to have fun, and I want to win. So I will do whatever I think is necessary to make that happen. And if that means I have to expend more energy rallying the troops and being a cheer leader, so be it. At least then, when the season's all said and done, I'll know I did everything I could to make this season a good one.

Looking onto the boardwalk.

  I also look at it as another opportunity to learn. How to motivate people. Different leadership styles. What is the best method to get the most people to respond in a positive way?

  I think having positive energy and leading by example are the two key aspects of leadership.

  The positive energy keeps everyone 'up' and involved. The higher your energy, the higher everyone else's energy will be throughout practice and the game. That's showing enthusiasm, constantly talking, giving out high-fives, etc. Being a leader can be exhausting!

Me in my first week in Dunkerque!

  Leading by example, to me, is a no-brainer. There has to be someone willing to show the team how hard you have to work and how to carry yourself. Otherwise, your team will probably end up at the bottom of the standings, and that's where no one wants to be!

  Even with those two things, there's nothing like an encouraging word to a teammate (or sometimes a kick in the butt) to pick them back up. That's the third attribute of a successful leader -- being vocal. And it's one thing that has never come naturally to me. I'm going to give it a shot, and see where it takes me!

  Leading vocally doesn't always mean saying, 'good job'. When is getting a little mad more appropriate, and more meaningful? A good leader has to find the balance between positive and negative reinforcement. Everyone responds differently, so therefore you can't treat everyone the same.

A beautiful sunset over the North Sea.

  Another aspect of leadership is knowing when your team might need a little more togetherness: a team dinner, a team meeting, going to the movies, playing laser tag, etc. Call it what you want, but I call it team bonding.

  I think if you can somehow combine positive energy, leading by example, and being vocal, you WILL inspire your teammates, and your chances of having a successful season become all the more likely.  And who knows, you might just inspire more leaders to emerge, making your job that much easier!

  My team opens up our season tomorrow (Saturday,

Go Buffs

the 17th in Paris), I'll let you know how it goes!

  Have a great weekend!





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