Sonya Elliott – Page 125 – Back on the Court

Back on the Court – For the Love of the Game

I can’t begin to explain how good it feels to be back on the court again. It’s like being home. At least when I’m playing…the next day however, is another story. When I rolled over to get out of bed the morning after my first game back, I become reacquainted with every single muscle in my body and thought I might die. But funny thing is at the same time it felt awesome. That kind of soreness takes me back to college, when basketball practice was 3 hours of drills, conditioning and scrimmaging and then weight lifting. And I loved it, most of the time. Yes, after having to sit out a few months with a bad hip it’s good to be back playing, but the problem is, I’m out of shape. So to take care of the matter, I joined two leagues. No better way to get back in shape, or kill myself. Actually, I’m feeling pretty good and not playing half bad…for a 41 year old. All for the love of the game. It’s funny how making the time to do things you love, can really make you happy. 🙂

Step into Style Fashion Show

I had another opportunity to be a part of a benefit fashion show. The Step into Style Luncheon and Fashion Show presented by The Assistance League of the Eastside was filled with fashions from the Newport House and was a lot of fun for myself and the crowd.

The Assistance League of the Eastside provides many services to the community. Operation School Bell furnishes new clothing to students in need, Assault Survivor Kits supports rape and assault victims by providing them with a sweat suit and personal care items, and the Assistance League Outreach works in collaboration with other community services. I look forward to working with The Assistance League of the Eastside in the future.

Remember the Gifts

Recently I had the most incredible experience. I was allowed to share my story of recovery with a grief support group at a neighborhood middle school. I felt very privileged. I can’t imagine dealing with death while going through middle school. Those years are such a time of change and growth.

Before meeting with the students I spoke with Ann White at The Healing Center in hopes that I might better understand what part of my experience would best support them in dealing with their grief. Surrounded by the Healing Center’s warmth, I melted into the soft chair next to Ann and found myself holding back tears as I told her about my fiance Mark who was killed in an accident 17 years ago. A lot of years have passed since Mark’s death and I don’t cry about it much anymore, so I felt silly. Ann reached across and touched my arm. “It’s okay to cry. And it will be okay for the kids to see that even after many years have gone by, you have a special place in your heart for Mark.”

Thank you. Even an old lady like me felt relieved to hear it out loud.

Ann related the grief of a loved one to a scar. She said the pain in your heart, just like a scar, can heal and be stronger than before, but it can also be very sore to the touch.

I felt the pain melt away.

I talked to the middle schoolers about my life. How lucky I feel to be in this world sharing my life with my husband and kids. That I am a writer and I have just finished writing […]

Natalie Goldberg…GO!

Her voice was remarkably comforting as she commanded every writer in the auditorium to “Go.” She, of course, didn’t mean for us to leave because we were getting on her nerves, she meant WRITE. Just WRITE.

Fellow writers, readers, artists, and adoring fans were all ready to absorb her every word in hopes that it would lead them down their writing path. Her magic helping to make “it” happen. “It” being the book, the essay, the writing. My own writing experience hasn’t always been easy. Life seems to get in the way, but Natalie Goldberg has been there to help in my journey. I remember when I first discovered her powerful yet soothing voice, listening to her books on tape as I built my deck. Her voice spoke to me and told me that as writers we often look outside for help to keep us moving forward with our work, but the magic we are looking for is within. Write is Goldberg’s answer. Go

It sounds crazy, but I’m a believer. Writing my memoir Lasting Impact seemed overwhelming. Too many words. Too many ideas to get my mind around. Go Sonya. Go. I drew inspiration and strength from Ms. Goldberg’s Writing Down the Bones. First I wrote a paragraph, then a page, and then another. The pages grew and combined with one another, they began to form a story. Go Sonya. Go. I believed that if I continued on my path of writing, perhaps I could finish my memoir. It was slow, but like a puzzle the pieces came together. And when I thought I was finished, there was more. Revise. Edit. Go Sonya. Go. More than ten years have passed. My memoir is […]

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: Memories

All weekend I’ve been sorting through photos. I’m putting together a little something for my parent’s 50th Wedding Anniversary (Surprise Mom). It’s been slow going as I have a box of old family photos from the time before I had a camera, photo albums from the time I got my Kodak to the time my son was born (about 17 years of albums),and then back to boxes of half-labeled envelopes of photos after Cass was born, (yes Cass, we did take photos of you when you were a baby too) up until I got a Mac Book for my 40th birthday nearly 7 years ago. Then I went digital.

That wasn’t much better. I swore I would keep up with the photos and photo albums, and did for the first 6 months. Now, as of three weeks ago, my computer […]

PeaceLoveBasketball Friday:

I put on a basketball camp this week for girls between 2nd and 8th grade. Our high school players coached the young athletes. The campers had a blast. All were exhausted by the last day, campers and coaches alike. But oh to see the smiles. A good reminder of why I coach.

Monday’s Pen to Paper: Worth A Thousand Words

When I look at a photo I can be transported into a different time, place, even world sometimes, and how much fun to write about it…

Writing Prompt:

Back on the Court – For the Love of the Game

Step into Style Fashion Show

Remember the Gifts

Natalie Goldberg…GO!

Meet Sonya

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Meet Sonya

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Monday’s Pen to Paper: Memories

PeaceLoveBasketball Friday:

Monday’s Pen to Paper: Worth A Thousand Words

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