Monday’s Pen to Paper: Just Do It
There is mayhem in our house. We’ve had two weeks of construction. Two weeks with no washing machine. Hours with no water. A wayward water pump and lots and lots of noise. Later this week, the dust and pounding will move to our kitchen.
My husband is complaining. “It’s been a month already, when will they be done?”
“It’s only been two weeks,” I remind him. “Four or five weeks to go.” I give him a wink. He works out of the house. His home office is not easy to work in. I’ll have to admit, the noise doesn’t foster an enviroment for writing either, but when is life ever perfect. Today I’m making myself write. What I come up with may not be award worthy, or worth reading for that matter, but I’ll use the old NIKE adage and JUST DO IT…just write.
Whether its writing or doing something else, there will be days you’ll need to remind yourself to just do it.
WRITING PROMPT: Celina was curled up in her velvety soft sofa by the fire, reading her book, when she heard a loud pounding outside the door…
PeaceLoveBasketball Friday: Game Plan
The basketball team I coach had a big game last Friday. I scouted the opponent and watched last season’s game film. Then my assistants and I put together a game plan that we felt, if implemented well, would give us a win and another step in the direction toward our season goals.
We adjusted our defense, informed our team of the opponents individual strengths and how to stop them, and emphasized offensive priorities. The plan worked to perfection.
We celebrated in the moment and then as coaches, started working on our next game plan, tweaking and adjusting for the road ahead.
Life is like basketball in so many ways. We set goals, find what it takes to reach those goals and then work on our game plan, growing and changing as we go.
Take a minute to go over your game plan. What adjustments do you need to make to reach your goals?
Monday’s Pen to Paper: A Lucky Save
Yesterday there was a little yelling at our house. We are remodeling the basement and had to move some extremely heavy items out of the way, one is a foosball table that hasn’t been pried through the narrow doorway it somehow entered almost 20 years ago. After fighting several large pieces of furniture through the tiny opening, and letting a few choice words slip during our frustration, it was time for the main event, the foosball table. We removed the table legs, but this still left us with a cumbersome and very heavy table top with metal rods sliding and protruding from both sides.
Needless to say, by the time we finished and made it to the dinner table my son and daughter and husband were cranky. I thought food would help. It wasn’t enough. The kids asked to be excused. “No.” My husbands replied. They moped and complained, picked up the dishes and asked again. “Not until we play a game of foosball.” I said. (The foosball table is now in our kitchen).
My son complied but explained he would only give minimal effort. “Great, you can be on my team.” I smiled. “I’m so good, we won’t need a big effort from you to win.”
We all sidled up to the table and started to play. The kids moved more slowly, grumpily (if that is a word). Making it quite obvious that they were not going to have fun. I put in a couple of shots across the full length of the table with my goalie. My daughter put in a hard shot from her front line. My husband slammed a ball into a player with such force it almost pop off the table. “Nice save Lilly,” he said as he reached […]
Monday’s Pen to Paper: Peaceful Chaos
It’s a new year! I don’t know about you, but although I had a great holiday season, I am ready to get back to some semblance of a schedule. 4 people and 2 dogs in the house 24/7 means a lot of laundry and dishes and mess to keep up with and no “me” time to do it.
This morning the house is empty (Well except for Bruno and Sassy-and they are quietly waiting for a walk-and myself. ) So I feel light. Like I can breathe. That’s the way I’m built. I enjoy people, especially my family, but I need to spend some time alone or I wind up like a top, ready to spin out of control. I rarely do…spin out of control, but I feel it on the inside.
I have a quote in my room that I do my best to follow, but it’s not easy for me. It reads:
PEACE. It does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble or hard work. It means to be in the midst of those things and still be calm in your heart.
Hmmm. Not an easy task.
Sometimes I just want my house to myself. It’s not like I think, “great the house is empty I’m going to toss myself on the couch, eat Bon Bons and watch TV”. In fact, when I’m alone I feel more inspired, even for the not-so-fun-stuff like paying the bills and cleaning toilets. Crazy I know.
It’s just after 9:00AM and already I have done the dishes, folded a load of laundry and watched the video (and took stats) of our last basketball game. Now if I could only figure out how to find that clam and energy amidst the chaos.
If you have any ideas…let […]
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: Make Time To Read
It’s my job to read. When you are a writer, it’s important to read, to study your craft. Right? For sure!
That’s what I remind myself of, and tell my husband, when I sit down to read a chapter or two during breakfast and the dishes are overflowing and the laundry sits unfolded. I have to eat, so it’s a no-brainer that I should use this time to read. The only problem is one or two chapters can easily become three or four or five or more if it’s a good book, and unfortunately I don’t have time for that, it’s basketball season.
So, even though it’s my job, and I love to read. Often I have to delegate a certain amount of time and stick to it otherwise, though I would have a blast, nothing would get done. But […]
PeaceLoveBasketball Friday: Choices
Sonya Elliott EWU 1988
What makes us gravitate toward different likes and dislikes? What makes one person love to play the piano, others to love to knit or ride a motorcycle or read, or for some of us to love to play basketball? Is it just within us or are we a product of our parents and our environment? Sometimes I wonder.
Take me for example. Why do I love to play basketball? My parents didn’t play, I had no influence to take part in the game. I simply goofed around in the driveway with a basketball when I was young, watched a couple of college games in Montana and then years later tried out for our middle school team because I wanted to, and I have been playing ever since.
Even when I play badly or get beat up, I’m still drawn back to […]
Monday’s Pen to Paper: Catching Fire
Recently I’ve been inspired to write another book (besides the one that I published and the one that I’m currently working on). I’ve been writing a young adult novel for a couple of years now and I am taking a year-long class to help me focus and get it done. But the other non-fiction book that I have notes on, that’s been sitting on the back burner, is catching fire.
Maybe it’s a sign to focus on the non-fiction book or maybe I just have to alternate my energy from book to book and know that in time, with hard work and patience, both books will come together. For now I’ll just write on and see where it takes me.
WRITING PROMPT: Write about something in your life that has been catching fire.
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