Hello, family. To all of my fathers out there, I sincerely hope that you had a very relaxing and pleasant Father’s Day. As for me, I couldn’t have asked for a more enjoyable day with my daughter. And for those of you that are wondering, yes, I did get more than just the big piece of chicken. For those that don’t know what I am referring to, read the last blog. Now, enjoy.
As long as I have lived, I have never been able to hide my love for sports. And while I thank my mother for the passing of her athletic prowess down to her children, my inherited addiction for the world of sports has, at times, been the cause of many of my relational issues, as I have often chosen to neglect the presence of my mate in exchange for the opportunity to watch a good basketball game on tv. When it comes to basketball, you can be certain of at least two things being true: 1) Two of my vacation days will always be taken to commemorate the start of the Men’s NCAA College Basketball Tournament, and 2) I will, in most cases, have a pair of tennis shoes in my car just in case a good basketball game jumps off after one of my business meetings. You can never be too prepared to show your hoop skills. Therefore, it should come as no surprise to know that tonight, I will be in someone’s sports bar with a glass of beer and some well seasoned potato skins, yelling at the big screen as I watch what could possibly be the last game of the 2008 NBA Finals.
No, this is not a blog about basketball. But, as I have mentioned before, I sincerely feel that we can learn lessons in almost every aspect of life. And recently, the battle between the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers has taught me a few things about life.
For those that are completely unaware, the first team that wins 4 games will be crowned NBA Champions. And seeing that basketball in America is still revered by others around the world, the NBA Champion is, in many cases, considered as basketball’s World Champions. Currently, after five games, the Boston Celtics have won 3 games to the Lakers 2. However, over the past few games, there has been such an interesting pattern to develop that tonight’s contest can almost be pre-scripted by even the smallest of basketball fans. Here is how the last few games have played out:
The Lakers take a commanding lead in the first half. Their confidence is high. Everyone on their team is making shots, playing defense, and believing in themselves. Then, all of a sudden, Boston comes back with a vengeance, only to resemble the image of a parent slapping a child in the face, as they inadvertently say, “Respect your elders.” And depending on the way the referees feel about making penalty calls that night, Boston wins the game. What does this have to do with the blog topic? A lot.
In my years of playing basketball, I often heard coaches say, “You are not playing to win; but you are playing not to lose.” Initially, I failed to comprehend with the meaning of this phrase. However, as I got older, it became quite clear to me. Every night the Los Angeles Lakers have jumped to a commanding lead, only to lose it when the game is on the line. As the game progresses, they become timid, refrain from taking risks, as they demonstrate their collective uncertainty of what landed them in this important opportunity to begin with. They fearfully stand as they depend on others to determine their fate. They are playing not to lose, instead of playing to win. In other words, they approach the court with fear as opposed to courage, and it shows. It’s their fear of losing that drives them instead of the courage of winning. Well, what is the difference and what does it have to do with you? I am glad you asked.
Oftentimes, in our lives, it is the fear that drives us instead of the courage to succeed. When you are driven by fear, you sit and wait for “…your ship to come in…” (a miracle) instead of creating opportunity and seizing that opportunity. When you’re driven by fear, you mistake activity for productivity. When you’re driven by fear, you detest and avoid your process of development as opposed to respecting and accepting it. When you’re driven by fear, you don’t embrace the change that needs to take place in your life. However, you simply prefer to be entertained in the process of talking about change.
Like the Lakers, when we’re driven by fear, we find ourselves getting so close but continue to fall short of true success. I ask, what compels you, fear or courage?
Let me know your thoughts.
CLK.com