Bittersweetness ....

Unfortunately for me my 'freshman' season of coaching has come to a disappointing end. After the girls on the team made huge strides in the second half of the season, we came up short of a playoff spot. We would have loved to redo some of our tough loses from the first semester because we are such a different team now, but that is the hind-sight of sport.
This time of year means so many things for the athletes, deciding how to move forward with their lives, on and off the basketball court, is not an easy thing to do regardless of the outcomes. Some of them graduate, some will not be back next year, and some have to figure how they are going to get better so they can extent their season longer next year. Looking back on it now, whatever they ultimately decide one of the best thing about sport is that it forests us to look at ourselves in different lights; our character, our passion, our goals, our faith, and trust in the process of growing up is challenged everyday. For me I didn't see this personal growth until after I was done playing and its pretty interesting to look at - some of the mistakes are hard to think about and the successes can still make you so happy with just the thought of them. Now it's really cool I learned how to reflect on it, but it also makes you realize you are never done .... get excited about the small stuff but keep the dreams big :).
So what better way to ponder life than on a beach with an umbrella drink in hand?
I'm off to Cancun with some fam-jam for 'reading' week!!!!
Keep you posted :).
"We grow neither better nor worse as we get old, but more like ourselves."ML
Mich

Straight No Chaser

If you like Glee and you like a variety of music you will like this group. If you haven't heard of them check out there numerous you-tube videos and/or website.
Below was probably my favorite 'song' from their set list that I just saw them perform in Winnipeg!! None of the videos do actual justice to the performance they put on, so if you get a chance to take in a show I highly recommend :).



"Spread the love, Spread the sound, Spread the Sound" SNC
Mich

Happy Love Day ...

Living on my own in a house were I often remember being being busy with 5 university students has it's ups and downs - it's nice to not feel bad about not doing the dishes some nights but it's also tough coming home to an empty house when all you want to is avoid homework for a little while longer by catching up with roommates. So when I got home last night, I got one of the best valentine's day presents ever, a hand made card from my cousin Carolynn, which absolutely made my day. It made me smile ear to ear and the empty house not so dark - which may have in turn lead to me dancing to some tunes around the house (to avoid homework) but that is a topic for another post haha.
We all have moments of self-doubt, disappointment and discouragement but part of growing up is learning how to get your self out of it. Having people remind you are loved and mean something to them is one of the best gifts anyone can give you. So as much as valentine's day is about cupids and chocolates, I like to think of it as love day haha (corny I know, but hey simple is true). So although the day has pasted, take some time to show love or remind people of why they matter, it is a great thing to do :).
Someone once reminded me that whenever you feel lonely remember that at least 5 people have thought about you today whether you know it or not - everyone has the power to spark a light in someone else life, so don't forget!
So thank-you Carolynn your card couldn't have come at a better time and I'm passing the love around :).

"Someone taught you how to love, and probably didn’t know it - pass it on."EM
Mich

Perspective from down the hall...

Well it's been an eventful month to say the least.

School: Hit me hard, but with my first mid-term down there is now enough pressure for me to start working more diligently at it (only work well under pressure apparently haha). I lighten my course slightly so I could ease my way back into it and I have to be in school for two more years minimum so why overload if I don't have to …
Basketball: Coaching is such a complex art. Between balancing your own life around it and trying to help 14 athletes balance theirs, while remembering that there is a sport buried under all of it - is a pretty daunting task. I'm so fortunate to be given the opportunity for this learning experience so I'm just trying to take it all in and go with it. Some days I feel like I'm 'amateur hour' and others I feel completely confident in what I'm doing. I'm slowing beginning to see the similarities between trying to communicate to co-workers in a different language about a project detail and explaining to first year point guards end-out plays haha….
With that said having the combination of the two extremes - engineering and basketball - works so well for me. One keeps me refreshed for the other … so again I'm pretty lucky.
Other than that, I'm starting to get catch up with friends and family - trying not to tell the same stories or say "well in serbia …" too much. It's been fun sharing my stories and being able to reflect about all the stuff I got to go through and learn while I was away - perspective is an awesome thing to have in the back pocket!
Sorry for just a boring update post but that's it for now … my goal to post more isn't really coming into effect, think I just have to get re-inspired (or just stop caring that I have nothing interesting to post about… I mean when your Mom is your biggest reader everything is game! … right?haha).


“The more you lose yourself in something bigger than yourself, the more energy you will have.” NP

Talk soon, Mich