"There are different paths to EVERY destination" -- Job Hunt Thoughts

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  I officially announced my 'retirement' just over a month ago. So I guess you can say I've been on the job hunt ever since. Though, the word hunt sounds intensive and stressful, it really hasn't been that.

  Roughly one month in, and already faced with a few learning experiences, I thought now was as good a time as any to share some thoughts.

  I had a summer plan, or so I thought. To take things slowly, not rush into anything, put some feelers out there (wherever there is), and figure out what I really wanted to do.

  But like many plans, mine quickly was thrown by the wayside. Mostly because opportunities arose. And also because I started getting a little antsy (so much for taking things slowly, huh?). I suppose I am more anxious to get on with the next part of my life than I initially thought I would be.

Swimming with Sofie over 4th of July weekend.

  As I've gotten myself into the networking, connecting, job hunt world I've encountered a few difficulties. Not huge mountains to climb, but there have been a few common denominators that have arisen.

  Don't get me wrong, the positives have immensely outweighed the negative. Family members, friends, mentors, etc have been gracious enough to give me their time and their ear. I value and rely upon their experiences to guide me in this journey a great deal.

  1) The first stumbling block I've come across is my 'lack of experience'. I find the different reactions, and vibes, I get regarding my ten years abroad as a professional basketball player interesting. It is seen as a negative entirely too much -- in my opinion, of course.

  How can it be a negative? Sure, I lack the work place experience that many people my age already have already garnered. I will be the first to acknowledge that. So let's acknowledge it, and move on to how how that experience is a positive.

  Here's why I'd prefer to focus on the positive side: What was I supposed to do, turn down the opportunity to play professional basketball? I don't think so. I worked my tail off, and sacrificed a lot growing up so I could get to the point of being able to play professionally. Pursuing, and enjoying, that career was only natural.

Taking advantage of auntie time!

  I would like to think, through my 10 years overseas, I bring a great deal more to the table than a kid fresh out of college. (Here's where I'd insert all the positive things about my career oversea -- my international perspective, my ability to adapt quickly and succeed, and so on -- but tooting my own horn isn't what I'm here for.)

  What I need is for a potential employer to understand my time and experiences in Europe outweigh any negatives.

  I find myself echoing the sentiments of the people I have just talked to. If they are positive, I come away with a positive outlook. If they dwell on my lack of experience, I find myself thinking I'm in for a long, uphill battle.

  Maybe that is me, my responsibility. I need to hold myself accountable, and force the conversations to remain focused on what I will bring to the position. And not allow a question mark to enter into the equation.

“If you celebrate your differentness, the world will, too. It believes exactly what you tell it—through the words you use to describe yourself, the actions you take to care for yourself, and the choices you make to express yourself. Tell the world you are one-of-a-kind creation who came here to experience wonder and spread joy. Expect to be accommodated."

-- Victoria Moran                                  

Beautiful sights of Boulder.

  2) The second stumbling block I have encountered is that I'm not nearly narrow-minded enough. Call it not having a clear vision. But it seems that I don't know exactly what I want to do. I believe I'm getting closer, and that vision is becoming clearer. But still, there are details to work out!

  I understand that a wishy-washy, unfocused person is nearly impossible to deal with. And that is not what I want to convey. I have been working diligently to familiarize myself with some potential job areas. It's not easy navigating through the different languages that each job description comes with. But again, this is where I rely on friends and family to help clarify.

On the lake for fireworks -- July 4th.

  I knew this transition, and in turn, this job hunt, wouldn't be a cakewalk. Every situation I have encountered thus far has been a new experience for me. I'm taking baby steps and learning a great deal as I go along. It's only been a month, but I'm positive I'm headed in the right direction!

  Shout out to my friends and family who have been willing to offer up advice and guidance! You don't know how much I appreciate your time and input!

  Here's to a resilient, patience-filled journey!
                        

"When you win, say nothing. When you lose, say less."

vs. SIG 

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  Game Recap Monday is going on hiatus.

  There's a saying that goes: "When you win, say nothing. When you lose, say less." So after consecutive demoralizing blow out losses?!? As of now, I'm following that advice.

  I'm all for constructive criticism, and trying to improve. But that's been tried, over and over. And frankly, I'm out of good things to say. If you have nothing good to say, keep your mouth shut. Maybe that's a little harsh, but that's what the current situation is.

  So until we've turned things around, there won't be any game updates on Mondays from me. I'm tired of it. Tired of trying to find the bright spots. Tired of airing my frustrations about bad basketball. Tired of trying to figure out what's wrong -- why I'm on a team that is struggling this much, at this stage of my career.

  This year, and last, is the most I've ever lost as a pro. I've won an Italian Championship and Super Cup, played in EuroCup and the Polish All Star game, advanced to the championship series in Sweden (on a team that won 20-something consecutive games), and have been on a playoff team every season except last.

vs. SIG

  Winning is my habit. I'm not accustomed to losing week in and week out. And I never will become accustomed to it, nor do I want to be. It will never be acceptable.

  Part of the frustration comes because I'm doing nothing differently than I've done in those past seasons. My approach, my work, my play, my effort. Maybe that is the problem, who knows.

  Every athlete deals with failures and losing. You're never perfect, and your team is never perfect. Usually, you learn from the losses and mistakes. You and your teammates make adjustments and work harder -- to change the outcome, to improve the result. That's what separates winners from losers.

  Winners keep fighting, keep scrapping, keep looking for a way out of the hole. Losers quit.

  So I am at a loss for words.

  You don't want to get to the point where you're numb to losing. Where you don't feel anything.  Where the loss no longer stings, or puts a bad taste in your mouth. That's when you've given up, and you've accepted it.

  I'm not giving up, I'm just taking a different approach and re-evaluating.

  Whether I'm writing about my games or not, you can be certain that I will be working my tail off, no matter what, doing everything I can to turn this season into a winning one.

 

Injury to Insult

Player introductions.

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  I don't quite know how to tackle this week's game recap. None of Saturday's game versus Reims went as expected. I guess that's what makes sports exciting, and always keeps us coming back for more.

  You can never predict how things are going play out. That's why we play. That's why we watch.

  As I sit here with an achy lower back and a feeling like I've been punched in the gut, you can probably determine how the game went on those words alone.

  Here are the quick and dirty details from the game:

  -We lost by 5.

  -I hurt my back at the end of the first half. After trying to loosen it up during the 15-minute halftime and the entire third quarter, I went back in for the fourth quarter. Bad decision.

Head up.

  Not that I hurt myself further. But worse yet, I didn't do my team any favors.

  The competitor in you always wants to test out an injury because you never know how it's going to feel when you're on the court, out there playing. Especially mid-game. That's what makes it tough. But it's definitely no fun not being 100% when it counts the most.

  After a great week of practice, it's even harder to swallow this loss. It was probably our team's best week since we've been together. After you have a good week of practice, of course you come into the game with a good feeling.

  It goes to show however, that good feelings and preparation don't get you anything. You still have to play the game to the best of your ability, and put the finishing touches on it.

  We, and I, have no choice but to bounce back. We have two very difficult road games looming in the following weeks, so we'll have to do it quickly. Outside of providing motivation and something to learn from, past games are just that, in the past.

  Summing up a Charles Swindoll quote: life is mostly how we respond to what happens to us. As bad as the taste I have in my mouth is, I must show my mettle and bounce back that much stronger.

Be Quick, But Don't Hurry

Slow down, make good decisions.

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  When a player known for her patience, even keel, and the ability to see one-step ahead of the play finds herself playing at a frantic, rushed pace, she may as well be a fish out of water. Flopping around aimlessly on the court (ok, maybe I'm exaggerating. But it's not a good thing!).

  In basketball, speed and quickness are widely regarded as huge advantages. Everyone is always trying to become just a little bit quicker. If you have even a half-step advantage on your opponent, it can be the difference between an uncontested lay-up, and tough shot over a defender.

  Now I've never been confused with someone who has a great deal of speed or quickness. I'm not going to beat too many people in a foot race, or blow by them with a quick first step. I succeed by relying on my fundamentals, being versatile, and being one-step ahead of my opponent mentally.

Play with a quick pace!

  With me, if anything works quickly, it's my mind. But still, you want to be as quick as you possibly can be on the court.

  There's a huge difference between playing quickly, and playing hurried.

  Playing quickly means playing with a sense of urgency. Playing with good pace by not holding onto the ball too long when you get it. Receive the ball, make a decision, do it.

  When you hurry, things are done poorly. Fundamentals go out the window. Feet aren't set on your shot. Nothing is in focus.

Coach John Wooden.

  So your goal is to play quickly, without rushing. Without compromising the quality of your play. I think to succeed in basketball you play to your strengths. You don't play to anyone else's strengths but your own.

  In analyzing my own play recently, I realized I've been doing the opposite. I haven't been playing to my strengths. I'm trying to be quick. But in reality, I'm playing hurried, and the quality of my play is suffering.

  That's when the great John Wooden's quote came to mind: 'Be quick, but don't hurry'.

  My goal this week is to re-focus on playing the game to my strengths. By slowing the game down mentally, playing free, and playing with the right sense of urgency!

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

Little Eyes Upon You

Lots of little eyes upon Abby Wambach.

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  There's a poem about little eyes always being upon you (read it below). It's about being a role model.

  In one way or another, if there are kids in your life, in any way, you are their role model. Regardless of if you want to be, or even what Charles Barkley says!

  Whether they are your children, your nieces, your friend's kids, children you mentor, or just kids that watch you play basketball; every time they lay those little eyes upon you, you are setting an example for them.

  They'll remember what you did. They'll remember how you interacted with them. They'll remember how you made them feel. And many times, what you do, will end up being what they do.

Tebowing: A prime example of 'monkey-see, monkey-do.'

  There's a small group of little girls (two or three of them) here in Dunkerque that, every time I see them, I can't help but think of that poem. Without fail, they always have a huge smile for me. And I try my best to always give them a big smile back.

  My team practices after them twice a week. And each and every time, they run over to me, after their practice is finished, to say bonjour/hello with a kiss on each cheek (hey, that's how they do it in France!). They do the same after each home game they attend too.

  I love that they come to say hi, it always make me smile. And it's a great reminder for me too. It's very easy to get caught up in your own world, and forget that what you do has an impact on others. But when you take a step back and remember the little eyes that are upon you, you do whatever you can to put your best foot forward as their role model.

There are little eyes upon you

and they're watching night and day.

There are little ears that quickly

take in every word you say.

There are little hands all eager

to do anything you do;

And a little girl who's dreaming

of the day she'll be like you.

You're the little angel's idol,

you're the wisest of the wise.

In her little mind about you

no suspicions ever rise.

She believes in you devoutly,

holds all you say and do;

She will say and do, in your way

when she's grown up just like you.

There's a wide-eyed little girl

who believes you're always right;

and her eyes are always opened,

and she watches day and night.

You are setting an example

every day in all you do;

For the little girl who's waiting

to grow up to be like you.

- Author Unknown

RELATED POSTS:

Role Models of Their Own
 

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Pushing Through the Rough Patch

Who knew I had a defensive stance like that?!?

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  I'm not going to pretend like losing is the worst thing you can go through. Unfortunately, we are reminded on a daily basis that there are things much more difficult to experience. But let me tell you, losing starts to wear on you after a while.

  I'm not exactly sure what my personal record-losing streak stands at for my career, but it's safe to say, if we haven't already surpassed it, we're getting dangerously close. Losing streaks aren't something you really want to keep track of, so you'll have to excuse my lack of stat-keeping.

  My team and I suffered our fifth straight loss over the weekend. That puts our last win coming before Christmas. Here's a situation where only having one game a week isn't doing me any favors. Nearly two months without a win makes for a very frustrated blogger/basketball player!

On the drive.

  When you lose a game, you're chomping at the bit to get back out on the court as quickly as possible, to right any wrongs. To somehow correct the mistakes you made that may have contributed to your team's loss. Practicing makes you feel a little better. But it's not til you get that win, that you're finally 'over' any loss. Until then, you keep seeing the mistakes over and over in your head, playing like a movie.

  I can say, though, after our most-recent game against Armentieres, I am encouraged. We played with fire, and intensity. I could see in my teammates that we were all into the game and focused on winning. It was the most 'together' we had played in months. We played hard, we fought for loose balls, we had a team-spirit that brought us closer. Unfortunately, we just didn't make the plays down the stretch, and came up short on the scoreboard.

  But we'll keep plugging along. There's no other choice. We'll learn from our latest loss, and hopefully become better players (and a better team) because of it. Losing is never ok! But if there's anytime you can be 'ok' with a loss, or a failure, it's when you turn it into something you learn, and grow from. You never want to numb yourself from losing, or from failing. If you're numb, and downfalls no longer affect you, then you're as good as finished. Cause that means you no longer care.

  One quote I continuously come back to is Michael Jordan talking about his failures: "I've failed over and over and over again in my life...and that is why I succeed." That's how MJ made himself the best ever. He took those failures and made himself better. He used his slip-ups as motivation. We can all do the same. We can't let our failures be for naught.

  We're close to turning it around, I can feel it! Fingers-crossed for a better report next week. I think it'll happen!

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My Time

Jumper vs. La Roche.

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  Basketball's a team sport, yes. And having unselfish, team players will always be the centerpiece of a successful team.

  Every once in a while, you need to put the focus back on yourself. When your team is struggling, it's very easy to start pointing fingers; to get caught up in what you feel your teammates are doing (or aren't doing), what plays your coach is calling (or isn't calling), and what calls the refs are making (or aren't making).

  But at the end of the day, there is only one person you have complete control over, and that's yourself.

  My family has a series of favorite family sayings. I'm sure you know the ones. They've been repeated so many times, that you forget where they originated. One of those sayings comes from my Papa (at least I think it started with him!): 'take care of yourself, and it's a full-time job'.

  In other words, stop worrying about everyone else, and take care of you.

  It might not be the same context as he used it, but I think I can hear Papa telling me right now: 'don't worry about your teammates, don't worry about your coach, don't worry about the referees, don't worry about your opponent. Only you control how aggressive you are, how hard you're playing, and what kind of mentality you bring to the court every day.'

Help defense, or something.

  Like I said before, basketball is a team sport. It's one of the things I love most about it. Working together with your teammates towards a common goal. One person can't win a game by herself, and one person can't lose a game by herself. It takes a collective effort either way.

  If I wanted to play an individual sport, and only be concerned with myself all the time, I would have played tennis! But I love being a part of a team. It's a special atmosphere, and that's what has always drawn me to the game.

  Given that, what I sometimes have a hard time with, is finding that balance between a team mentality and individual mentality. I naturally am a 'team first' kind of player. Always have been. Throughout the years, I have discovered it is one of my greatest strengths, and it can be my greatest weakness on the court as well.

  I facilitate, instead of attack. I run the play, instead of making the play. I defer to my teammates, instead of leading the way.

MJ

  This week,the focus shifts back to me.

  In high school, our coach had us write individual goals before every game. And that is something I've done off and on throughout my career in Europe. I haven't done it in a while, but I think now is a perfect time to break out the game goals this season. It simplifies the game.

  What exactly do you want to focus on? I try to be as specific as I can. Sometimes I even break the game down into quarters. I remember reading Michael Jordan's Rare Air years ago where he simplified scoring 32 points a game. It's easy: eight, eight, eight, eight. Only to MJ, I guess.

  So we're shifting mentalities. Not to being selfish, but to getting the job done. And with the shift, I'm hoping to turn the season around. Cause what I have been doing isn't working. My team has lost four straight games, and I have been less-than-stellar on the court. Looking forward to a great week of practice, and
getting back on the right track!

...fitting song for me right now below.

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

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I love this picture!

  We've all heard the quotes a thousand times:

• it's 'mind over mater'
• 'life isn't what happens to you, it's about how you react to what happens to you'
• how things are: '90% mental, and 10% physical'

  These sayings have been drilled into our heads over and over again. But do we actually believe them?
  And if we do, do we try implementing them into our lives?

  Sorry, these are the thoughts of a psychology major! Positive thinking and thoughts affecting outcome are some things that have arisen with me recently, and I thought blogging about them would help me sort though those thoughts.

The power of thought!

Self-Fulfilling Prophecy 
  One of the most-impactful and meaningful things I studied as a psychology student was the idea of self-fulfilling prophecy.

  A self-fulfilling prophecy happens when a positive or negative expectation about circumstances, events, or people may affect a person's behavior toward them in a manner that causes those expectations to be fulfilled.

  In short, it's thinking something true.

  For example, having a 'me against the world attitude'. Having that sort of attitude in all facets of your life probably won't work out very well. By constantly bringing that attitude to the table, the people around you might think you're a difficult person to be around (your attitude/behavior ends up alienating those around you) and because of this, they might not want to interact with you.

  That alienation, in turn, feeds your me against the world attitude even more.

  Another way of looking at it is: what is your internal dialogue, or what is your story? What are the thoughts that you consistently have about yourself? Those thoughts, stories, ideas, are amazingly powerful because usually they end up becoming our reality.

  Whatever our story is, it bleeds into everything. You come to expect it. You look for it, because you're so used to seeing it. (examples: feeling powerless, attracting abusive relationships, people being 'out to get' you, co-workers not liking you, etc.)

Henry Ford quote.

Focus on Positives, or Negatives?
  We all have the situation that seemingly arises everywhere in our lives, or a scenario that we recreate over and over. The question is, do we allow that story, or those thoughts impede our progress? Is it making the quality of our life poorer? Do we focus on the negatives in our lives more than the positives?

  If life really is mind over matter, shouldn't we do our best to focus on the positive aspects in our life, and stop dwelling on the negative?

My Stumbling Block
  This occurs with me when I begin thinking about what I am going to do after my basketball career is over. The first thoughts I have are: 'I am only qualified to play basketball', and I am inexperienced at anything 'real world' related.

  You can guess that by thinking this way, and focusing on those things would cause anxiety. Not only that, it doesn't allow you to enjoy your current situation as much as you should.

  It's a domino effect of sorts, because you can't selectively turn off emotions. Your anxiety leads to avoidance, and shutting down from the other parts of your life. And that, in turn, leads to being even more alienated, feeling more alone, and more reclusive. It's not a good cycle to repeat over and over again. So HOW do you keep this domino effect from starting in the first place?

Make a Choice
  The only solution is to CHOOSE to focus on the positives! Instead of worrying and focusing on the negative THOUGHTS in your head, focus on what is REALITY! What is REAL? What have you done? Celebrate the things you have accomplished!

  For me, think about all the awesome experiences I've had, the great people I've met, the fun things I've gotten to do, the places I've seen, how I've grown over the years. How can THESE things help me in my future endeavors? What are the skills and traits I have acquired through these experiences that transfer over into the 'real world'?

Easier said than done sometimes, isn't it?!

  I've decided that if you focus too much on the negative and the fear, it stops you from celebrating and appreciating the great things, and moving forward. You can never let the anxiety and fear win!

  The mind is a powerful thing, and we have a lot more control over our outlook than we might think.

  Let's make conscious choices (on a daily basis!) about what we focus on, and what we put our energy into (and what NOT to focus on, and waste energy on!). Hopefully by focusing on the positive, that old 'story' you tell yourself will erode away, and your internal dialogue will slowly begin to change for the better.

  That's what I'm going to work on: focusing on the positive! What's your story?

LINKS:
Jillian Michaels Podcast 10/21/2011

Reality Check

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"If you’re proactive, you don’t have to wait for circumstances or other people to create perspective expanding experiences. You can consciously create your own." ~ Stephen R. Covey

  Isn't it funny, how you can be cruising along through life, and then BANG, something happens to jolt you back to reality, and put things back in perspective for you? Or maybe, with each passing day, you find yourself complaining more and more, and the same thing happens: something happens to make you realize just how trivial you were being.

  It humbles you. And makes you realize what is truly important, and the things you should really be focusing your energy on. I guess it forces you to be thankful. During those moments when it's happened to me, I find myself saying: "I'm never going to complain again!" Yet slowly but surely, a short while later, you're back finding things to complain about.

  I know I have a tendency to do that when things aren't going my way on the basketball court. But really, why am I complaining when my jumper's not falling, or when my ankle hurts a little bit? Even if I get a little homesick, that's nothing to complain about. No one is forcing me to be away from my family and friends.

  I'm all for venting, and letting your feelings be known, but not to the point of whining and complaining. Complaining gets nothing accomplished, and it surely can't be a healthy thing to continuously do.

  The world always has a tendency to throw you off-balance: whether it's something in your own life, your friend's/family member's life, or with someone you hardly know. Ready or not, those times do come.

  I'm not saying that it's good that these things happen. But I am saying it's good to re-gain perspective, and re-assess what we have to be thankful for. What are the things that really matter?
  
"Life's up and downs provide windows of opportunity to determine...[your] values and goals...Think of using all obstacles as stepping stones to build the life you want" ~ Anonymous

  So here's what I'm trying to say: Let's all try to do a better job of keeping things in perspective on our own (myself included!). Let's not rely on the world to shock us back into realizing what's really important.

 

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

MJ w/the game winner.

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  After two consecutive weeks of less-than-stellar performances on the court, I decided it was time to seek out a little extra motivation.

  Basketball, like any sport (or life, I guess), is like riding a roller coaster. Nothing stays the same for too long. Just as you're starting to get comfortable, something comes along to shake things up and get you back on your toes.

  My team had won two consecutive games, so we were starting to feel pretty good about ourselves. And then BAM! Just like that, we're staring at a two game losing streak.

  It's equally important to not get too high with the wins, and not get too low with the losses. Maybe each person is different, but for me it's easier to hold onto the negatives, and forget about the successes you've just had. So in the effort to get my mind back on track, I looked for motivation from the best.

  Some of the best quotes I've seen regarding bouncing back from failure/defeat have come from Michael Jordan. When you think of MJ, you most-certainly don't think of failure. You think champion, competitor, success.

  But undoubtedly there were times in his career where he came up on the short end. Where he missed the game winner, where he didn't play up to par, where his team lost in the playoffs. But one of the things that made him the best ever, was that he always bounced back from those defeats.

"If you're trying to achieve, there will be roadblocks. I've had them; everybody has had them. But obstacles don't have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don't turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it."

                                                                                                            - Michael Jordan

  So if someone like Michael Jordan has had failures similar to yours, there's no reason to get down. He's proof that if you keep working, and learn from your defeats, you can turn things back around in your favor.

  I know that's what I'm going to keep in mind this weekend as I take to the court! Have a great one!

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How Important Is It?

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  A friend posted this on their Facebook wall this morning, and I thought it was a good subject for a quick Friday blog. I would change one thing however: "If it is important ENOUGH to you, you will find a way. If not, you'll find an excuse."

 
  These are the things that we absolutely refuse to fail at. If we fail once, we'll give it another shot using another method. But we will not stop until we have a found a way. Obviously the most successful people are the ones who value accomplishing the little things just as much as they value accomplishing the big ticket items.

  Of course we have our priorities. It's human nature to value one thing over another. So the things that are of the highest importance will get done first, while the things that are least important probably WON'T get done.

  To me, importance and motivation are closely tied. The things we value the most, are also the things we have the highest motivation to accomplish.

  So here's my question: if we are trying to improve ourselves, how do we change what we find important, thus our level of motivation??? I definitely don't have the answer to that. But it's something to chew on over the weekend!

  What are the things you'll get done at any cost??

  Have a great weekend!

"We are what we repeatedly do...."

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 "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore,
is not an act but a habit."
- Aristotle

  I can't understand not practicing hard. Period. And I never will. Practice is a place to get better. And it's where you form your habits. If you practice at 50% and then try play at 100% only for games, I'm going to go out on a limb and say that you won't be prepared for the games. The adjustment will be too great, and the pace will be too quick.

Poland - All Star game. 2006.

  You know the old saying, "Practice makes perfect." We've all heard it a thousand times. But really, that's not an accurate statement. Because if you repeatedly practice a bad habit over and over, then you're just reinforcing that bad habit. So the saying should be, "Perfect practices makes perfect." Yeah I know, there's no such thing as perfect. But don't you want to practice doing something as well as you can possibly do it?

Playing in Germany 2009-2010.

  To me, that means going full speed in practice. Whether it's a drill or scrimmage, go as hard as you would go in a game. That's the only way you're going to get better, and that's the only way you'll be prepared to perform during games.

  Excuse the running comparison, but it's like training for a half-marathon, and then deciding at the last minute to run a full marathon. Or maybe a better comparison would be, training to WALK a marathon, and then at the last minute deciding to RUN a marathon. Either way, it's not the smartest move, is it? Sure, some people might be able to pull it off occasionally. But week after week, game after game, it's going to catch up to you. You surely won't be at your best.

Poland - All Star game. 2006.

  And that's all we really want, isn't it? To be at our best on game day, when the lights come on.

  So in my book, if you're not going to go hard, don't waste your time ("Go hard, or go home," right?). Put in your work, and play hard.

  Make your habits excellent, and I'm willing to bet you'll be on the winning team more often than not.

  Be great! ~ Sabrina