Monday’s Pen to Paper: Worth A Thousand Words
When I look at a photo I can be transported into a different time, place, even world sometimes, and how much fun to write about it…
Writing Prompt: 
PeaceLoveBasketball Friday: What Is Success?
My daughter is reading “Outliers: The Story of Success” by Malcolm Gladwell for her AP Literature class this coming fall. The book discusses what it takes to become a high-achiever. My daughter translated it to me in her 16-year-old perspective (I have not read the book), “Mom, to be successful, a person must put 10,000 hours in the activity they choose. In fact, parents start their kids playing hockey, at 5 years old, so they can put in enough hours to go Pro.” As an athlete, I know the value of time and effort. But I also know that there are tons of kids that put in the time and don’t make it to the professional level and sometimes even if they do, is it true success?
Does a 5-year-old child really know what they want to do, want to be, when they grow up?
I encourage my kids to play several sports, to try different things, play an instrument, read, make an attempt at art. My daughter wanted to take drama last year but got put in to a wood shop class and found out she LOVED it. How fun to try something new and find that you love it. It might be hard to put in 10,000 hours and still get out and try new things.
I have a story I have told a million times. It explains why I’m careful about pushing my kids. My husband would say I don’t push enough, so I know there is no perfect answer. But here is my story.
My mom went to college to study voice, to become an opera singer. She loved singing. A classmate of hers started singing at a young age with much pressure from her mother. She also studied voice at the Mozarteum […]
Monday’s Pen to Paper: Good-bye Perfection
Sometimes I get stumped by perfection. Let me explain. I used to be a perfectionist. You would never think so if you saw me now. I have learned to let it go…sometimes.
When I was young, my room was clean, everything had its place. In high school (even in math class) I would rewrite my homework before I handed it in because I wanted it to be neat. I know, crazy right? Like I said if you saw my house now, you would never believe it.
I have slacked, but that perfection instinct is still there. For example, on our family vacation to the east coast last month, I was planning to keep a journal. I wanted it to be perfect. Daily journal entries with impeccable handwriting, and since my photo albums are all digital now, I was excited to add brochures, metro passes and ticket stubs too.
I had planned to write everyday, that didn’t happen, so I wanted to just drop it, not keep a journal of our trip. “Sonya, it doesn’t have to be perfect,” I told myself, “It’s just for you to look back on, remember this time with your family.” I made myself jot notes when I could. My writing was messy, real messy. I wanted to stop. I fell behind and my ticket stubs, metro passes and random papers were piling up. I wanted to throw them in the garbage. I made myself toss them in an envelope.
“They don’t have to be in order Sonya.” I reminded myself.
On the 4th of July (after our vacation) when I was waiting to pick up my daughter from the ferry dock, I wrote and wrote. It was sloppy, but I finished detailing our trip. The next day I thumbed through papers and […]
PeaceLoveBasketball Friday: The Best Basketball Story Ever
You don’t have to love the game of basketball to love this amazing story of young man’s inspiring night on the court. Jason McElwain, a manager for his high school basketball team, who is autistic, was told he could suit up for Senior Night. When his coach gives J Mac some time on the court, just take a look at what happens…
Follow this link to an inspiring story that will amaze you and bring you to tears.
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
Monday’s Pen to Paper: Me Time
Check out my friend Jenny’s article on summer. Take some time with your kids, but don’t forget about you!
Summer Isn’t Just About the Kids.
WRITING PROMPT: Write about things that are important to you. Things that inspire you, revive you, fill your cup…
PeaceLoveBasketball Friday: FREE-day
PeaceLoveBasketball T-Shirt
Today is FREE-day Friday, and what does that mean? It means that YOU have a chance to win a FREE PeaceLoveBasketball Shirt! All you have to do is add your favorite motivational quote to the comments section of this FREE-day blog between now and August 15th, 2014 and you will be entered in a drawing to receive a free t-shirt!
I’ll start with one of my favorites…
“There is no limit to the goals you can attain, the success you can achieve – your possibilities are as endless as your dreams.” – D. Crowe
Monday’s Pen to Paper: Perfect Heat
My daughter and I took a road trip this weekend. We visited a college campus five hours away from our home. We drove our VW Vanagon that has no AC. It was hot. After the campus tour we drove another three hours to see my parents in Spokane. Still hot. Our return to Seattle was another four and a half hours (hotter still) to a hot gym where we played two basketball games before driving home in more heat. I hate being hot…but I had an awesome time. I love road trips in the van.
Maybe it’s because the Vanagon makes the drives more memorable. The van has lots of window and feels open, has a pop up table for snack breaks and there is heightened sense of excitement with the chance of […]
Follow Sonya