I come from a small Mormon town called Magrath in sunny Southern Alberta. From the time you can hold a ball you learn three things, how to dribble it, how to shoot it through a hoop and to fight for it if someone tries to take it from you. That's right I'm talking about our staple game of basketball. Not that baseball and softball and soccer aren't our thing too. And of course hockey.
I had the opportunity to watch my daughter play basketball these past few months and they had a very intense game this morning in their tournament. You could see the aggression and effort. You could see their frustration with themselves when they made some mistakes, so adorable for the record by the way. All the parents can really do is cheer them on. We yell things out like defense or rebounds or hustle but what I really noticed is they just wanted fans in the stands supporting and encouraging them no matter what. The laughs and smiles and team effort was commendable and it was nice to see them work so hard together along with self determination to win the game.
I've been playing basketball competitively since I was about 10 years old, grade 5. There was a small handful of us that were allowed to play on the grade 6 team early because the coach saw natural talent and wanted to invite us to nurture and develop it. I miss him terribly as a coach, as a teacher and as a member of the community, Mr Burns Alston. He instilled a passion for the game in all of us that carried with us a long time. His number one priority was your overall endurance, he and wife loved running so naturally he wanted us to become better at it and build up our endurance because let's face it you can't take a good shot or dribble the ball well if you're always winded. I thank him for that lesson because it didn't just apply to ball it applied to life.
You can't always sit on the sidelines you have to get in the game, no one can force you, no one can do it for you. You are the only one that can live your own life. Waiting is contrary to the point of life. Not that you shouldn't be patient for things but work hard to prepare yourself for them in the meantime. Do everything you can so when your called into the game you know what your doing or should be doing and you'll be able to develop experience quickly and more efficiently. Trials and challenges won't seem as hard if you are prepared to meet them.
Also, always and I mean always cheer each other on! Always! Just because you're taking a time out from something and see someone else excelling at it doesn't mean you become jealous or wroth or judgmental. You encourage them, you cheer them on and be happy for their successes. Love others no matter what. In the end your relationship with yourself and your relationship with God will be the two most important things you will ever develop and experience in this lifetime and how you form them and treat them will greatly affect the outcome of your eternity. It's really hard to live with yourself when you're angry or hold a grudge or put yourself down. Find a way to be lifted, find what works for you and like I said just a few sentences ago always cheer each other on.
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