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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Monday’s Pen to Paper: Take Heart
“Believe that life is worth living and your belief will help create the fact.” – William James
WRITING PROMPT: Take time to write about what is important to you and what makes your life worth living? Now take this information to heart as you live each day.
PeaceLoveBasketball Friday: New Beginnings
A new coach was named at the high school where I was head coach for five years. It’s a weird feeling to know that the girls who I have grown to care about and love, will be led by someone new. Yet, I also know that they will be fine, that learning to work with a new leader on the court will be good for them. It is a great lesson for life, because throughout their lifetime they will experience a lot of change, they will have to work with new bosses and a variety of co-workers, and figure out who they are, and how they fit in, along the way.
I have heard that the new coach is quite the opposite of me, and there is nothing wrong with that. All coaches have different styles. Pat Summit, C. Vivian Stringer, Mike Krzyzewski, […]
Monday’s Pen to Paper: Change
This is an exciting time. My daughter is about to graduate from high school, but you know what, as excited as I am for her to go off on her own and start living her own life, it’s really hitting me this week on how much I’m gonna miss her. In fact just writing about it gets me a little teary eyed.
Oh, I know she’ll be fine, I know that she will experience amazing things, and meet new friends, and grow as a person, but damn it, I like having her around.
Change is hard, I get it and know how to deal with it, but it doesn’t mean I always have to like it.
WRITING PROMPT: Write about changes that are happening in your life. How do they make you feel? How do they affect your life?
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