Hidden Treasures
There was a part of me that wanted to throw away the tall stacks of old homework papers that were piled in the corner of my office. More than a years worth of two kids schoolwork adds up to a lot of paper cuts and huge pile of recycle. I know I should do this process once a week, or once a month, but I have given into the fact that it happens once every year or two for me. But in the end, there are always one or two nuggets of gold that make it worth it. In between the numbers & graphs, definitions and essays, I find some poetry & prose that give me insight into my growing and ever-changing kids, and occasionally a little insight on life.
Don’t forget to sift & search for life’s hidden treasures.
…I knew about this poem, but I came across it and others, by my daughter and my son, that helped me know them just a little bit better…
FREEDOM OF SPEECH
BY CHARLI ELLIOTT
I want to always rise to the
Challenge. I want to never sit alone.
I want to learn to talk and be heard.
I want to watch as the grass grows
Old and dies. Month after month. Year after year.
I want to see. If the moon can rise
Every night, I want the taste
Following your dreams…with the help of a coach
Sometimes in life we need help to fulfill our dreams. Thanks to many coaches throughout my childhood, I became a better basketball player and reached my goal of receiving a scholarship to play basketball in college. When I decided to write my book, Back on the Court, I hired a writing coach to help me become a better writer. Coaches can be helpful in many areas of your life.
If you are looking for support in setting goals and realizing your dreams, go to www.mamaneedsarefill.com and learn more about Life Coach Jenny McGlothern’s complimentary life coaching session and follow you heart and soul to the life you’ve always imagined.
Oct 20 – Book Signing at EWU Bookstore (Homecoming)
Date: Saturday Oct 20, 2012
Time: 12:30-1:30pm
Location: Eastern Washington University Bookstore – 152 Pence Union Bldg
Cheney WA, 99004
Do what you love
My teammate texted me yesterday to see if I was going to play in the Reignman Classic Basketball tournament this weekend. Our team plays every year.
Last year, I played in the tournament on the day of my book release party. I played in two games and then made myself presentable to do readings from my memoir, Back on the Court. I guess it seems appropriate, as the book is about finding happiness, finding love and finding my way back to the basketball court. A place I love to be.
This tournament, for me, is the closest thing to being back in college. Most players are ex-college athletes and the games are intense, fast paced and competitive. But most of the players are also half my age, and I was beginning to wonder if it might be time to hang up the high tops for this tournament. But then I got the text, the reassurance that I was wanted and I was glad, because there is nothing I like better than being on the court.
That’s when it hit me, what was I thinking, considering not playing? Playing basketball, doing this thing I love, is what helped save my life when I had nothing else to live for. There will be a time to hang up my shoes, when I can’t beat my man down the court on defense and I can’t catch the ball (because too many of my finger have been broken), but until then I will do what I love for as long as I can.
Listen to your heart and make time for the things you love.
Meet Sonya
Meet Sonya
Sonya Elliott’s memoir, Back on the Court: A Young Woman’s Triumphant Return to Life, Love & Basketball, is her story of finding hope in the wake of tragedy after she and her fiancé were hit by a train. She blogs about writing, basketball, and life and is currently working on a Young Adult Novel and a Non-Fiction Coaching book. Stories of her career as a fashion model are woven through her memoir, as both the Soloflex and Easy Spirit Shoes commercials were filmed during that time period, and this unique and intriguing business continues to be a part of her life.
Sonya played basketball at Eastern Washington University and was a starter for the Big Sky Champion team that went to the 1987 NCAA tournament. She coached for almost 25 years and was voted Seattle Times Coach of the Year, Seattle Officials Women’s Basketball Association Coach of the Year, and twice voted Metro League Coach of the Year. She loves the game of basketball and is thankful, not only for her husband and kids but for her ability to continue to get back on the court.
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Monday’s Pen to Paper: Just Do It
There is mayhem in our house. We’ve had two weeks of construction. Two weeks with no washing machine. Hours with no water. A wayward water pump and lots and lots of noise. Later this week, the dust and pounding will move to our kitchen.
My husband is complaining. “It’s been a month already, when will they be done?”
“It’s only been two weeks,” I remind him. “Four or five weeks to go.” I give him a wink. He works out of the house. His home office is not easy to work in. I’ll have to admit, the noise doesn’t foster an enviroment for writing either, but when is life ever perfect. Today I’m making myself write. What I come up with may not be award worthy, or worth reading for that matter, but I’ll use the old NIKE adage and JUST DO IT…just write.
Whether its writing or doing something else, there will […]
PeaceLoveBasketball Friday: Game Plan
The basketball team I coach had a big game last Friday. I scouted the opponent and watched last season’s game film. Then my assistants and I put together a game plan that we felt, if implemented well, would give us a win and another step in the direction toward our season goals.
We adjusted our defense, informed our team of the opponents individual strengths and how to stop them, and emphasized offensive priorities. The plan worked to perfection.
We celebrated in the moment and then as coaches, started working on our next game plan, tweaking and adjusting for the road ahead.
Life is like basketball in so many ways. We set goals, find what it takes to reach those goals and then work on our game plan, growing and changing as we go.
Take a minute to go over your game plan. What adjustments do you […]
Monday’s Pen to Paper: A Lucky Save
Yesterday there was a little yelling at our house. We are remodeling the basement and had to move some extremely heavy items out of the way, one is a foosball table that hasn’t been pried through the narrow doorway it somehow entered almost 20 years ago. After fighting several large pieces of furniture through the tiny opening, and letting a few choice words slip during our frustration, it was time for the main event, the foosball table. We removed the table legs, but this still left us with a cumbersome and very heavy table top with metal rods sliding and protruding from both sides.
Needless to say, by the time we finished and made it to the dinner table my son and daughter and husband were cranky. I thought food would help. It wasn’t enough. The kids asked to be excused. “No.” […]
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