Monday’s Pen to Paper: Sun Inspiration
I love hearing birds when I wake up in the morning. It gives me hope that spring will arrive. In Seattle we are under water. I know it isn’t much to complain about, there are much worse weather scenarios out there in the world, and I even enjoy rainy days…for a while, but I am ready for sun, or at least for DRY.
Yesterday, I woke to birds and this thing called light, that has been absent with all the rain, shining through my window and I was inspired. I threw on my old jeans, dirty tennis shoes and a work shirt. I grabbed the wheel barrel and shovel and got to work re-building the steps in our yard that connect the grass to the alley. It had been bugging me all winter. We had extra bricks and stones from a project in the front yard that I had plans for.
I spent a few hours digging and lifting and sweating, and besides feeling frustrated because my eyes were itchy and my nose runny–the one downside of nice weather is that my allergies kick in–I was happy. And when my son walked to the back, to the area I was working on (which is almost never seen unless you are taking out the garbage) he said, “Wow Mom, did you do that all today?” I acted cool and casual and tilted my head with my quiet, “Yep,” but inside I was beaming.
My husband cleaned his office and changed the oil in his motorcycle and wiped it spotless. What is it about Spring that gets us going?
WRITING PROMPT: Write about how Spring inspires you.
PeaceLoveBasketball Friday: The AWE of State
I went to the State Basketball tournament yesterday. At first I sat by myself in a place where I could watch both the boys and the girls games at the same time. Sometimes it’s best when I’m alone because I do a better job watching, but part of the fun is the whole experience. I have been at State many times as an assistant coach, so each time I walk into the Tacoma Dome I get that feeling of AWE. That, “We made it” feel that is still hidden deep in my bones. I remember the tears and fallen shoulders during the tough times and the hugs and screams after the wins, and the girls piled on the floor around a giant trophy. It was so fun to be a part of it all.
After moving from the quiet of my “private” seat, I went from coach to coach to former player to teammate to coach moving my way through The Dome. The only way the day could have been better would have been to be there with my team, on the court competing. And they could have been there. We were so close. That’s the way the playoffs work.
“We scored more against that team.” I’d think to myself, and might even mention to the coach next to me with a sigh, “We only lost by 3 to that team.” But in the end, to get there you have to do what it takes, and do it at the right time. And this year we didn’t.
Next year I hope my team will be at the Dome, building their own memories to look back on.
Monday’s Pen to Paper: Get Inspired
My daughter and I are going to be taking a writing class together at the Hugo House, a community writing space in Seattle. (We are both working on Young Adult Novels.) Simply the act of scheduling the class has inspired me.
With my 2013-14 basketball season coming to an end (I still have the last couple of basketball games to stat, a sports banquet to organize, and spring b-ball plans and summer camp to finalize) I have a little more time to write, but with a class on the horizon, I feel a fire to get working.
My daughter started having her boyfriend read her work, which has helped her to write more often so that she has new pages to give him. My friend Jenny and I are planning a writing retreat to get away for a weekend and focus on the page. Try something different to get inspired.
Write on!!!
WRITING PROMPT Opt #1: Write about what inspires you.
WRITING PROMPT Opt #2: Beth stood at the top of the mountain…
It’s time for March Madness!!!
It’s February 28th and you know what that means…it’s time for March Madness (although since I coach high school basketball, I got an early start with a little February playoff madness ). When the College chaos begins, our family prints out brackets, and then each person fills in their bracket and the winner gets, or is supposed to get (I’ve been left with a sore back before), a massage. Massage or no massage, the fun is really following those teams you’ve chosen to support and watch the mayhem, because like I tell girls (the ones I coach) anything can happen in the playoffs.
Enjoy the Madness!!!
And while your in the spirit, go to www.peacelovebasketball.com and get 20% off your order March 1st-March 31st. Discount code GCUJ95KUMXRW
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: 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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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