PEN TO PAPER: Little Frustrations
I’ve been locked out of my website for a few days. Talk about frustrating. Especially since I am not great with tech. I tried my password and clicked on a few buttons and that was it, after that I had no idea what else to do. This is when I would normally call or email someone for help, except there was no phone number or email to contact.
These days, as consumers we are expected to search the support page for answers. What the heck? I don’t even know what I’m looking for!
Fortunately, I’m back on, or back in, or whatever you say, and the whole frustrating experience gave me a good idea for a writing prompt.
WRITING PROMPT #1: Write about what frustrates you.
WRITING PROMPT #2: Write about a time you got locked out of your email, or your house, or something or someplace important.
WRITING PROMPT #3: Raven opened her laptop, turned it on and…
PEACELOVEBASKETBALL: Connect With Your Teammates
If you work to become closer with your teammates, your team will be stronger, and you might even make a new friend. But it’s not always easy. You can work to earn your teammates respect, find common ground with them and spend time outside of your sport to start. Read more on how to do this HERE.
PEN TO PAPER: Surprise
Since I fell off the wagon with my writing prompts, I figured that I better come back with some good ones. Give one of these a try and see what happens.
Write on!
WRITING PROMPT #1: You look in the mirror in the morning and you look like a different person. Now write.
WRITING PROMPT #2: You wake up and find that you have a super power. What is it and what do you do next.
WRITING PROMPT # 3: Caden’s eyes widened when he noticed…
PEN TO PAPER: Vacation Time
Let’s talk vacations!
With things opening up a bit more, many of us are adventuring out on vacation. I just got back from my favorite spot in Montana. My grandparent’s lake cabin. I’ve been going there all of my life. It’s where I learned to paint and play cards, swim and waterski, make fancy pancakes and bake apple pie. And after walking to get our drinking water out of the spring (for several years), enjoying close views of bald eagles and hikes to the Turtle Pond, I also learned to appreciate nature.
Most of all I learned the true meaning of family.
Over the years I have returned to Montana, and with TV and cell phones put on the back burner, my kids have had some of the same experiences that I did, and have created many new ones of their own. Experiences that I know they will never forget.
What are some of your favorite vacation experiences?
WRITING PROMPT #1: Write about your favorite childhood vacation.
WRITING PROMPT #2: If you could vacation anywhere in the world, where would you go and what would you do?
WRITING PROMPT #3: Even after Azelle bought the plane ticket, she still couldn’t believe that she was…
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.
Blog
VANAGON ADVENTURES: Road-Trip Travels, Trails & Tales (Seattle to Tijuana, Mexico)
I love roadtrips, especially when they’re in my 1989 VW Vanagon, the Blue Bomber. A vanagon roadtrip is always an adventure. Last month, on Instagram, I posted about my first road trip in the Blue Bomber twenty-three years ago. We had just bought the van and I drove it down the west coast and then back north. I was pregnant and traveling with my 2-½ year old daughter and our boxer dog. I had no cell phone and we broke down three times, but always found our way. My most recent journey was from Seattle to Tijuana, Mexico. I gathered my Instagram post into one giant blog so that you can read about my adventure if you missed it on Social Media.
The drive to Mexico was prompted by the need for bodywork and a new paint job on the Blue Bomber. It is old and rusting, so the metal is […]
PEACELOVEBASKETBALL: Should I Play AAU Basketball?
There is no perfect answer to this question. It really depends on the athlete and the AAU programs available. I played AAU, my kids played AAU and as a coach I have observed many athletes go through AAU programs, so if you, or someone you know, is interested in playing AAU basketball, here are some pros and cons to consider.
PROS
Time On The Court
When you play on an AAU team you might get more time on the court. There is no guarantee. It depends on the team and your ability, but if you are a player who starts, or gets into the games a lot, the extra time on the court can be worth it.
Better Competition
Often AAU teams play against better competition. Most AAU teams travel to tournaments and find high-level events to help improve their game and increase player exposure to college recruiters.
Visibility
Times have shifted over the years, college coaches […]
PEACELOVEBASKETBALL: The Magic of Ball Fakes
A good ball fake can get a player an easy basket or an open pass. It can shift the opponent’s defense and make gaps for the offense. The ball fake is key to making things happen on the basketball court. Whether it’s a shot fake, a pass fake or drive fake, this simple skill works like magic against opponents and can make a huge difference in a player’s game and the success of a team.
What is a ball fake?
A ball fake is when the offensive player moves the ball in one direction, without letting go of the ball, to fake out or distract their opponent and gain an advantage. A player can use a shot, pass or drive fake to create space or make the defender move, so they can score or continue with an offensive move with the ball, such as a pass or a drive.
Catch the ball in […]
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