Monday’s Pen to Paper: Good Fortune
This weekend we had a foreign exchange student from China. My daughter had asked if we could be a host, (she has been taking Chinese for several years and her teacher told her about this opportunity.) We were supposed to have a fairly quiet weekend, which is not common for our family, so I said sure.
Our exchange student brought us a beautiful red velvet decoration for our home wishing us good fortune but I was wondering if we were to have it, as our quiet schedule changed. My daughter’s basketball tournament got moved to the weekend, my son had one basketball game added to his schedule, so he had three games, I had two basketball games and my husband now had to leave town.
I was worried this would be too much for our guest, but to my surprise, and joy, our exchange student liked basketball and somehow, even with our crazy schedule, he was able to walk Alki Beach, visit the West Seattle Art Walk and Sunday Market, have good old-fashioned burgers and chocolate shakes on our back deck, get spectacular photos of the city after sunset, go to the West Seattle Seafair parade, hit China town for groceries, play some heated games of Jenga, and fall in love with our two boxer dogs Sassy and Bruno.
And my favorite part of the weekend was when our exchange student taught us how to make Chinese Dumplings and in doing so reminded us of our good fortune.
We all gathered in the kitchen, my son, daughter, her boyfriend, our exchange student and myself, and worked together to fold pork and chives into the dumpling wrappers. We boiled them over the stove and then with chopsticks in hand we dipped our dumplings in seasoned rice […]
PeaceLoveBasketball Friday: Badge of Honor
Every day this week, at the end of camp, my high school player/coaches chose a Ms. Hustle for the age group they were working with. In our final meeting each day the player/coach would stand in front of the campers to give the award, but before they awarded the camper with their badge of honor (and a Fruit Punch Gatorade), they would explain why the camper deserved the award.
All of the coaches included much more than simply “hustle” in their speech.
“This camper was an awesome listener...this camper worked extra hard in drills…this camper was alway nice and helped her teammates.”
The young player/coaches saw what I see every day. Hustle is very important, but hustle with a positive attitude…
That’s something to honor.
Monday’s Pen to Paper: Good Pride
I’m coaching a girl’s basketball camp this week. They are 3rd though 8th graders. One of the things that we do, along with a lot of basketball, is keep a journal during snack break. I give two or three questions for the girls to write about, and discuss if they like, with their group. Questions like, “What’s your favorite animal?” , “Where would you like to travel?”, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” or my favorite, “Write about something that you are proud of…”
I love to watch the girl’s minds spin.
Helping my little sister with homework. My grades. My piano recital. When I sat with my grandma.
What is something that you have done in your life that you are proud of?
WRITING PROMPT: Write about something that you are proud of.
PeaceLoveBasketball Friday: Finding Your Way
About once a month I speak at a massage school during their trauma unit. I was a trauma patient after I was hit by a train back in 1991, and receiving massage was a huge part of my healing. I was also a Liscenced Massage Practioner for 18 years (but life got in the way of me actually doing it for a living) so I understand both perspectives.
When I meet with the class we gather in a big circle and I share my experience with trauma and massage, and I invite the students to ask as many questions as possible. This week when I was talking I was reminded again of how important basketball was to my recovery. Having something I was passionate about to focus on, helped me to stay motivated when rehab was tough and believing that life was still worth living was tough. I would grab a ball, roll it around in my hands, breath in the sweet smell of leather and hit the hardwoods. First it was just dribbling back and forth all alone but eventually I was back on the court, doing what I love.
If you are going through tough times, find something that you are passionate about to help you find your way.
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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Variety is the Spice of Life: Say NO to playing select sports year-round
Say NO to playing select sports year-round.
My daughter is doing her senior project on this subject. Her instructor wasn’t crazy about the idea, but my daughter was adamant that it was an important topic and stuck to her guns. I agree. Today’s young athletes start specializing way too early and often for all the wrong reasons.
When I was young we played select sports because we loved to play. We wanted to play more and try to be the best. Today young athletes (often with pressure from their parents) play because they believe it will give them the upper hand for an athletic scholarship. But what most don’t understand is that playing one sport year round not only costs more than college itself, it often puts young athletes in harm’s way emotionally and physically.
Fact: Less than 2% of high school […]
PeaceLoveBasketball Friday: Life In Triple -Threat
I had the opportunity to speak to the seniors at my old high school. And when I talked to them about setting goals and making choices, I brought basketball into the mix. It may not seem like there is a connection but let me explain.
When I play basketball my goal is to win, and in order to do that, our team must get more points than the other team. So, I play tough defense and every time I catch the ball, I catch it in triple-threat position, facing the basket (my goal). Triple-threat means I am a threat to the opponent in three ways, I can shoot, pass or drive. I must read the defense, assess my options, and make a choice. Just like I do in life.
If I’m open and in my range, I might shoot the ball. If I see […]
PeaceLoveBasketball Friday: Time To Soar
I don’t remember having National College Declaration Day when I headed off to school. Is all the attention on this choice a good thing? I’m not sure, because it’s already a stressful time for seniors. There’s a ton of pressure to make the perfect decision on a school to attend, during a time when they are smack in the middle of taking AP tests, finals and applying for scholarships.
I know, because my daughter has been going through this over the last few months and it has been stressful. Her original college choice ended up being WAY too expensive. It had been our understanding that with merit aid, etc, the cost would be close to the University of Washington, it was not. Even with scholarships she was looking at paying $51,000 a year. We couldn’t, and wouldn’t, pay $240,000 for four years of college. […]
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