The things I have seen lived and learned have surprised me at times. What is magic, paranormal, unusual, the things without explanation. I cannot phantom to express in words. I at times do not understand, I have learned to accept. The moment, the breath, the life, the gift. What is God to me? Forgiveness, acceptance of all, peace, love, a higher calling of some sort that none of us deserve to have yet, it happens. God is our judge and we are vessels in the world not judges, in history it is said that all were accepted in his presence. Prejudice and hate surface from ignorance. I have learned that with death, new life resurfaces, life is a cycle. It is up to us to accept and embrace life as is or live complaining about all that we receive. Problems are the things we either feed or diminish. The choice is ours to make. Love comes first of all from the self, and with that life and self worth is born, we are good enough, all of us. External beauty is superficially attractive, inspiring at times, internal beauty is timeless and priceless to me, never fading, always growing.

Six Things to Trash Six Things to Treasure captures some of those lessons learned years ago. They were experiences and lessons I never forgot. The writing inspired from a dream of my father and I watching a basketball game and having 12 players on a basketball court. Six offense and Six defense. Books, lyrics, and art come from apparent random breaths of inspiration. It is a window to our thoughts and souls. The struggles to thrive in a sport, the words that we need to let go of, and the treasures that last for a lifetime.

Think about Six things within yourself that you can trash, those negative words, ideals, criticism from self or external that in the end do not define the self, they define a moment or trait. Write them down, think about them, and trash them. Liberation of those moments will give you a lifetime of self worth.

Somedays a simple phrase
Can hold a time or place
An image, a smile
Shapes winds for a while
A song a color
Transforms life from pallor
With the strings in a guitar
Songs to grow not fall apart
In a quiet noise
A sound and voice
And life goes on

To be in the moment is to let life be. It is a place of refuge and understanding of the self. It allows acceptance of what is as is. Music is life. Country music reminds me of home. The years I spent in Texas. Guitars are widely used in Mexican music as well. Strings on a guitar can tell so many stories, dreams, emotions, sadness, happiness. My respects to all artists to be where you are takes so much work. Hope is found with both feet upon the ground.

Thankful

Basketball atheletes know the work and dedication it takes to make it. Basketball atheletes know the excitement of making it to the team. The injuries that you try to avoid, yet if injured you work through them. The music that gets you pumped before the game starts. The anticipation right before stepping on to the court and when you finally do you let go. The work, nerves, strength, conditioning, problems, lack there of, it all goes away. You are here and all that is left is to do your best, get pumped, and shoot to win. More than basketball.

Basketball is at the centerfold of Six Things to Trash Six Things to Treasure. As the hours move forward on the clock, motivation moves forward with the hours. The shoes we choose to wear on the basketball court or any court for that matter determine the outcome.

Six Things To Treasure

7 O’clock
BELIEVE, gift yourself
8 O’clock
AWAKEN, your inner center and MOTIVATION
9 O’clock
Turn MOUNTAINS into MINI GOALS
10 O’clock
To keep list LIVE, LAUGH, LOVE, RELAX
11 O’clock
Own Your STORY
12 O’clock
Define and BE YOURSELF

Treasure. BELIEVE,AWAKEN,MOTIVATION,MOUNTAINS,MINIGOALS,LIVE,LAUGH,LOVE,
RELAX,STORY,BE YOURSELF

You made it this far. Step on that court and do what you are here to do.

More than hoops
life’s loops
dribble the ball
you hear the call
more than a kid
that plays not to skip
a workout, a run
a pass or a jump
hard earned sport
through sweat and more work
a coach more of a mentor
becomes family remembered
lessons learned on a court
become more than a sport
the true athlete knows
it is more than basketball

On Saturday Four College Teams will be playing basketball. Kentucky, Wisconsin, Uconn, Florida. Kentucky impressive with a line up of rookies, some experience backing up the other teams. I am not sure who will win on this particular day, I am however familiar with that feeling of making it. It brings back memories not of the caliber of these players that is for sure, but of the feeling of making it there. The late nights practicing basketball. The dedication and time it takes to improve on a basketball game. The bond you form with your coach and teammates they become like your family. My book Six Things to Trash and Six Things to Treasure based on 12 hours to redefine your soul. Basketball is used as a lesson guide. It is the sport I learned the most, both for personal lessons and fitness. The title is not the final draft, however the lessons learned are permanent truth to my heart, may they inspire you.

The First Six Things to Trash

1 O’clock
Life is NOT FAIR, So is OKAY TO BE ANGRY
2 O’clock
Does FEAR paralyze you or propel you?
3 O’clock
Are you a VICTIM or victimized by?
4 O’clock
I’m ONLY THIS, so I CAN’T do that.
5 O’clock
If I FAIL, it will mean I CAN’T, so WHY TRY?
6 O’clock
I’m NOT BRAVE or NOT GOOD ENOUGH.

Get rid of NOT FAIR, OKAY TO BE ANGRY, FEAR, VICTIM, ONLY THIS, I CAN’T, FAIL, WHY TRY, NOT BRAVE, NOT GOOD ENOUGH.

I will post the things to TREASURE on my next blog, share some more basketball anecdotes, encourage and remember those amazing days of life and basketball.