Monday’s Pen to Paper: You
Take a moment for yourself today.
WRITING PROMPT: Write about a time that you were self-indulgent…
Monday’s Pen to Paper: Getting Older
I had my first (and hopefully last), root canal this morning at 7:00am. I was hoping maybe it was all a mistake. My tooth wasn’t really hurting all that bad. But with X-rays and sensitivity tests it was decided that yes, a root canal was in order.
When the doc started working she reconfirmed that it would have been a matter of time, things already looked pretty inflamed. She made note of the fact that I must be pretty tough. I liked this. (This in itself is a blog all its own.)
To me, getting a root canal is a sign of getting old. This, I didn’t like.
My dad said to me once, “Sonya, you’re only as old as you feel.” This morning I feel old. But as the numbness in my mouth fades so will my melancholy mood, and I’ll be glad my tooth ache is gone, glad for modern medicine and glad that I’m still healthy and happy and have a quiet afternoon to write.
What makes you feel old? How do you keep yourself young at heart?
WRITING PROMPT #1: Write about getting older…
WRITING PROMPT #2: Stella sat in the dentist’s waiting room…
PeaceLoveBasketball Friday: Surprise Yourself
Yesterday was my Thursday night women’s basketball league. Most of the players on our team played basketball at the college level, and though a lot of us are over 40-years-old, we are competitive with other teams. Last night we played a new team to the league. The women arrived in short shorts and running shoes. I was concerned.
The game ended 74-17 in our favor. Normally this type of game would have really frustrated me, and to be honest, scared me. (It’s when players are out of control that people get hurt.) But these women did not play crazy out of control, just extremely rusty and what was interesting and inspiring was that they had all played basketball together in high school and they had decided to put a team together and go for it. Who could knock that?
This morning those women are probably hobbling out of bed, a little sore from being away from the sport for so long, and thinking, “Wow, we did it!”
Is there something that you love, that you’ve given up? Why not surprise yourself, and try it again…
Monday’s Pen to Paper: Simply Write
WRITING PROMPT: Take a look at today’s photo and get to work…
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 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. […]
PeaceLoveBasketball Friday: Take Pride
My full-time job is being a mom. Raising kids is such an honor and most of the time I love it, but sometimes I feel like I’m going CRAZY! It’s hard work (not to mention that you don’t get a lot of credit for being a mom). It’s morning until night, constant, from the first years when you’re nursing and changing diapers until the days when you’re getting ready to send kids off to college.
My kids are both in high school now and my duties today include; packing lunches (I know I don’t HAVE to do this, but I want to. They do get their own breakfasts), doing laundry, ironing my daughter’s dress to wear when she performs in a talent show tonight, walking the dogs (also mom duty), picking up my son’s computer and dropping money off […]
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