Monday’s Pen to Paper: What If The Zebras Lost Their Stripes?
This week my writing partner Jenny and I were talking about our favorite books for kids. One of my favorites growing up was Dr. Seuss’ McElligot’s Pool. Jenny had never heard of it so I ran to the basement and grabbed it. “I didn’t read much when I was young.” I told her, “but I loved this book.” And though I didn’t realize it at the time, McElligot’s Pool is about believing. Believing and dreaming of the future. And as I listened to Jenny read little Marco’s words out loud, I had forgotten how strong and clear I hear that message. I paged through the book when she was done. I had read this book a million times, and though I couldn’t have told you the little boy’s name, the one who sat holding a stick as a fishing pole, peering wide-eyed into a tiny spot of water, I remembered his dreams. I felt them as if they were mine. After a grumpy old farmer tells him he will never catch a fish in McElligot’s Pool, young Marco is not deterred. Young Marco still believes and dreams that life is full of possibilities. Or at least that is what he taught me.
I had to run to the basement again to dig out another one of my favorites. This book was a newer one that I had read for my kids. What If The Zebras Lost Their Stripes? By John Reitano. This is a book that every adult should read. My daughter is nineteen years old now and when I told her I wanted to blog about What If The Zebras Lost Their Stripes? She said, “Oh I loved that book!” Then she paused, “Wow, I just realized the message, about racism and […]
PeaceLoveBasketball: Defense
I miss the gym. Basketball season is just around the corner and I’m chomping at the bit to get near a court. Both to watch and play. It’s been part of my life for so long it just doesn’t seem right to have been away for over a month.
My son had a pre-season rec-game last week and when I said I wanted to come watch, he whined and complained. He doesn’t realize that since I stepped down from coaching, I’ve been going through withdrawals. And they’ve been even worse since I injured my rotator cuff this summer, and haven’t been able to play. I miss the sound of the ball bouncing. I miss the sweat and the hustle and I miss watching and playing defense – my favorite part of the game.
Most think defense is boring, it certainly doesn’t get the glory. The three pointers and the dunks are what kids focus on these days, in fact many young players don’t really understand the fundamentals of defense or understand how important it is to the outcome of the game.
Offense sells the tickets. Defense wins the games.
That’s what I’ve always said though there are different versions, as you will see in one of the links listed below, but touting the same concept, the important of defense. Check out the links below and learn more about this essential element of the game of basketball.
More on defense…
- Five Must Have Habits on Defense – PGC Basketball (below)
Monday’s Pen to Paper: One Word at a Time
I’m at a turning point in my life. My kids are about out of the house. I no longer coach high school basketball and I only model from time to time. I manage a couple of rental houses that keep me busy but I want to focus on writing. I do my share of writing, I blog, I’ve written a few articles and I’ve been working on my YA novel but I want to make a living writing.
Over the last couple of months I’ve read books and watched YouTube videos about being a full-time freelance writer by writing articles. I enjoy writing articles and thought, “I can do this!” But then I took a moment to think about what I really want, and I want to write books. I enjoy writing my blog and magazine articles from time to time (a recent one in the Miniature Gazette, Love In Every Little Step, shares my grandmother’s love of miniatures and love of life), but do I want to write articles full-time? The answer I found was no, I want to write books.
That was all I needed, to take a moment and listen to my heart. Now I have to set goals using my refreshed sense of focus and put in the time. Start making it happen one word, one page, one chapter at a time.
Think about what you really want in your life. Find your focus and then set goals to make it happen.
WRITING PROMPT: Write about what you want in your life. How will you make it happen?
Monday’s Pen to Paper: A Thousand words or at Least Ten Minutes
A picture is worth a thousand words right? or a least 10 minutes of writing practice. Take a look at the photo below and get to work!
WRITING PROMPT:
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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PEACELOVEBASKETBALL: Summer Shooting Challenge
It’s almost summer, and no longer basketball season. Or is it?
Kids are playing basketball year round these days, which is both good and bad. Good, because they’re getting more time on the court, but bad because too much time can lead to burnout and injury. I’ve written about this in my blog, Variety is the Spice of Life: Say NO to playing select sports year-round. I believe a player can still improve without playing a million games during the off-season by finding time to simply shoot and work on skills.
When I was a Sophomore in high school I averaged 3 points per game. The next year I was one of the leading scores in the Greater Spokane League. What changed? I worked on my shot. I spent some time playing with a team, but I spent a lot of hours just getting shots up on my own.
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Life Inspired Fitness: Do What You Love
I’ve always tried to do the things that I love to stay healthy and happy. Sometimes I put me second to everything and everyone else in my life, and that’s okay for a while, but as my good friend and writer Jenny says, “no one can pour from an empty cup.” So that’s what this blog is about, staying healthy by finding what it is that makes you happy, and doing it.
Other than my time at the computer writing, I am usually on the go. I walk my dog, go up and down stairs in my house all day long, work in the yard, and stay busy managing and fixing real estate properties. But what keeps me fit, is taking the time to do the things I love. I play tennis and run on occasion, but what gets me moving, […]
PEACELOVEBASKETBALL & PEN TO PAPER: Writing Wisdom
When I was coaching I gave journals to all of my players and to the kids who came to our summer camps. I found that writing was a good way for them to set personal goals, learn about team concepts and discover things about themselves and each other.
Some players cherished their journals and even brought them home and used them on their own throughout the season. Others simply left them in their lockers for the times when we had organized writing exercises and goal settings. But I loved that every time we wrote in the journals, noses went straight to the page and pens where scratching away. The girls had things to say, thoughts to be written. I believe that all the players and campers benefitted from the experience in one way or another as it gave them the opportunity to delve into their thoughts on the importance of teamwork, […]
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