Monday’s Pen to Paper: Check One Thing Off Your List
The house is quiet and I like it. The Holiday break this year was amazing but there is nothing like a silent house that helps me to unwind, even when I’ve got a long list of things to do already this New Year. The quiet makes it all seem less daunting.
I woke up early this morning, threw in a load of laundry, made lunches for my kids to take to school and then pulled out my dreaded paperwork. I figured I should knock things off my To-Do list right away. I have ASB and Booster Club deposits and expense reports to complete for basketball, so I spread papers and recipes across the kitchen table, (it felt like I had started on my taxes early this year, which I probably should) and got to work. It was nice to start the process, because it’s the paperwork that alway hangs over my head. Like most people (I’ve heard complaints), I hate it, but there is nothing better than the feeling I get when it’s done.
So with my paperwork complete and a quiet house and late practice ahead of me, I will have the perfect opportunity to carve out some writing time.
Check one thing off your New Years To-Do list and feel lighter.
WRITING PROMPT #1: Write a list of things you need to do in 2015. Write a list of things you WANT to do in 2015.
WRITING PROMPT #2: Kelly hated making New Years Resolutions so instead she…
PeaceLoveBasketball Friday: Give Yourself A Break This New Year
The Holidays are always a little hectic for me, especially since it comes smack in the middle of basketball season, and this year the day after Christmas our basketball team met at 4:00am to catch a flight to California and returned December 30th at 10:30pm. We met friends early the next day, stayed out late New Year Eve and had friends over to watch football on New Years Day. I had a great time but today I was tired.
I could really tell I was in need of a break when my husband asked me to go play basketball after my practice this morning and I said, “No.” I waffled several times after my initial response, (because there was a part of me that wanted to be on the court), but for once, I didn’t REALLY want to play.
I am way behind on my To Do list and since I had been going non-stop all week, I decided to stay home and work, but as soon as my husband left, I couldn’t get motivated. Finally I gave up and moved to the couch. Thirty minutes later the front door flew open and so did my eyes and amazingly enough I felt refreshed and ready to stat our last basketball game and put away Christmas decorations.
Sometimes we just need a break. Maybe it’s an entire weekend away or maybe it simply means taking the time for a quick nap to recharge for the day. Do what you need to keep yourself healthy and happy this New Year!
Wishing you all the best in 2015!
PeaceLoveBasketball Friday: I Like You Team Building
Last week we did “I Like You” team building. It’s simple yet powerful. I hand out papers to the team that have a couple of quotes about teamwork at the bottom and at the top they have a blank space and then “I like you…”. Each player gets an “I like you” paper for each teammate. (ex: If you have a team of ten, each player gets nine papers). Next the players write each of their teammates names on an I like you paper. Then the fun begins.
I ask the players to write down things that they like about their teammates. First-timers to this activity often take a while to get going but players that have done it before grab their papers and spread out around the locker room or court and get to work.
“Sarah I like you because you are such a good friend on and off the court, and you’re a total stud on defense.”‘ “Olivia I like you because you show us how to work hard everyday and you never give up. Never! Not to mention you can always make me laugh when I’m having a bad day.”, “Katie I like you because you can shoot the lights out, you rebound like a beast and I can talk to you about anything. you’re the best!”
When the players are done they put the papers in a big pile. That night I divide the papers up so all the like names are together, then I staple them into a little book. When the girls go to the locker room before our next game, I hand out the I Like You’s so that the players can read them while they are getting ready. There is no better way […]
Monday’s Pen to Paper: Alive With Music
Yesterday I noticed that there was a free concert at the library in our neighborhood. The Ladies Musical Club of Seattle was performing. Two sopranos were singing Mendelssohn and a pianist and violinist were playing Schubert and Brahms. I had to go.
Now I’m not a huge fan of classical music, but I enjoy it. When I was young I was in choir and my mom was always singing in a choir, so I have some appreciation, and though I couldn’t convince anyone else in my family to go, I made my way to the concert.
I sunk into my chair and listened, and when I closed my eyes it was difficult not to cry. It wasn’t that I was holding back tears of sadness, it was just that emotions were stirring inside me. Thoughts from my past, good and bad. I felt at home. I felt alive.
WRITING PROMPT: Sit down with your journal, or at your computer, and turn up some music that you haven’t listened to in years and see what happens.
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: Good Routine
Photo Credit: Jeff Zaruba
I’ve never been one for routine. Not that I wouldn’t want to have a little more of a schedule to my life but it’s just never been the type of life that I’ve led. I guess when I was playing and coaching basketball competitively there was some routine, but practices where often moved around, do to gym availability, and we were traveling with games, so there was always some change.
And though I have loved having a career as a fashion model, it is far from routine. Castings and jobs vary tremendously and often happen spur of the moment. Not conducive to a regular schedule. When I was in my 30’s I fantasized about getting up every morning and meditating and doing yoga. Having a morning ritual. But I also like sleep, and I had […]
Monday’s Pen to Paper: One Step at a Time
I decided to take part in NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) this year and, I’ll have to admit, it wasn’t the most productive first attempt. It did, however, help me to get nearly 4000 more words of my novel written. Every little bit helps.
What helps to motivate you to write? To work out? To meditate? To do those things that you want to do, but you keep putting off? Try new ways to push yourself. Take baby steps if you have to. Even if the attempt isn’t completely successful, the experience will help you grow.
WRITING PROMPT #1: Write down how you will reach your goals.
WRITING PROMPT #2: Shandra gazed at the tall peak one last time before she tied her boots up tight and…
PeaceLoveBasketball Friday: Did I Make The Team Coach?
Basketball tryouts can be tough on everyone involved. As a kid trying out for a team, you’re stressed about making sure you do your best and not allowing your nerves to affect your performance so that you can make the team. As a coach you worry about selecting teams while giving every player a fair shake with a short time period to evaluate, and as a parent you watch while your child weather’s the storm and you function as their anchor, or at least that is the hope.
If you are a player reading this blog, I wish you all the best. Take a deep breath and hit the court with intensity and a positive attitude. And no matter the result, if you give your very best, that is all that really matters. If you don’t make the team or the level […]
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