Lessons through Basketball

Things have been a little rocky at home lately. By that I mean the fights between your mom and me have increased. But this weekend we finally found some time to play basketball together.  
Over the last few weekends we’ve been playing soccer as the weather has improved, but it hasn’t really made us very happy. For some reason, we were both quite elated after Saturday’s basketball session. As I reflect on it now on Monday morning during my drive to work, I feel a combination of gratitude and pride.  

One of the biggest reasons is the lesson you learned on Saturday. You were losing at our game of 21 and you got angry—so angry that you kicked the ball twice, and one of those kicks hit me in the chin. I didn’t get mad because I know how difficult it is to concede defeat. It’s a skill that took me a long time to even begin mastering.  

After the game you told me you were very happy, and I could see it on your face. You learned that playing sports is about more than winning. It’s about the fun and the experience. Wow—how happy I was to hear that from you. Definitely a proud dad moment.  

So on Sunday when you bugged me to play again, I did everything I could to make it happen. And it did. We had fun again.  

I want you to know that I really treasure these moments. I treasure them because you’re growing up so fast. Even though my knee wasn’t feeling its best, it was completely worth it to spend that time with you whenever I can and whenever the circumstances allow.  

Over the weekend we also played Battleship and we barely watched any TV. Not that TV is a horrible thing, but it does limit our communication. Playing sports outside has way more benefits than watching TV at home.  

We also spent a little time before bed on Saturday reading about Kobe Bryant and the Mamba Mentality. There’s so much we can learn from him—his resilience, hard work, passion for his craft, and his drive to win are second to none. But he also treasured relationships and practiced extreme discipline. For him, it wasn’t all about winning. It was about becoming great at something—whatever that thing is for you.

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