Daily Short-hOPT: One Ambition

“Me only have one ambition, y’know? I only have one thing I really like to see happen. I like to see mankind live together – black, white, Chinese, everyone – that’s all.” – Bob Marley

This afternoon I was made aware that a local chapter of the Ku Klux Klan was demonstrating in Florence, KY. Call me naive, but I didn’t even think stuff like that existed anymore. 

I will absolutely stand up for anyone’s right to peacefully demonstrate. It’s part of what this great nation was founded on: the ability to have opinions that aren’t necessarily popular. My problem with the Klan, though, is that they teach a message of hate. Their giant sign proclaimed: “Diversity = White Genocide”. 

Most of the issues we face anymore stem from hate or just a general lack of understanding (or, worse, a general unwillingness to understand). We make sweeping generalizations about people we don’t know. We allow what we were taught by our parents to mold how we feel about people we don’t know. We don’t take the time to get to know people, so those assumptions we have stand firm. 

Let’s try something new: Let’s not let our preconceptions rule our approach with people. Let’s stop judging people because we don’t understand them. Let’s stop making assumptions about people based on what they look like. Let’s take the time to get to know someone before we decide who and what they are. 

Blind hate gets us nowhere. Absolutely nowhere. 

Have an awesome Saturday,
-A. 

Daily Short-hOPT: One Good Thing About Music…

“One good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain.” – Bob Marley

One of my favorite things about coaching is the bus trip to a big away game. While we want our guys to treat every game like a big one, it’s pretty obvious that the magnitude of some outweighs others. On these trips, I can’t wait to get on the bus because I can almost immediately get a sense for how we’re going to play that day. When I hear nothing, and see a bunch of focused stares with headphones in/on ears, I know it’s going to be a good day. 

When I was playing out my last couple years of summer ball as a teenager, we had rituals involving music that we never stayed from. Snoop Dogg was in the CD player on every road trip. When I was a cross country runner in high school, I had a playlist that I listened to before each race, and I asked teammates not running in my race to play Bob Marley at certain race points for motivation. 

The son of parents deeply influenced by music, and the grandson of an accomplished pianist, music has always been a huge part of my life. It’s not just something that I enjoy, it is an integral part of my life. I’ve tried playing guitar and piano, but my patience wore out before I could become even slightly adept at two or three chords. Even so, it has always played a role in my life. 

What I have found is that music works to affect us on many levels. I’ve espoused the mood-healing powers of Bob Marley on numerous occasions. When I was actively competing in sports, I liked to prepare with something a little heavier: Deftones, Korn, Limp Bizkit, Metallica. Call it a distraction, but music has the innate ability to move us both mentally, spiritually, and physically. That’s right, physically: “…one study showed music’s anti-anxiety properties, another found music was associated with higher levels of immunoglobin A, an antibody linked to immunity.” (Landau, 2013) 

Music has the ability to take us away when we need to get away. It has a way of speaking to us when we are less than okay. It is the perfect complement to a great experience. It is a motivator when we need to be pushed. 

So, when I hop on that bus and see the iPods lit up and headphones in place, I take comfort in the fact that my guys are focusing in their own ways. The music may be different, but the idea is the same. 

Have an awesome Monday,
-A. 

Daily Short-hOPT: A Couple Things…

“Keep your face always toward the sunshine – and shadows will fall behind you.”
― Walt Whitman

During this time of year, stress and depression can set in on folks in a certainly unwanted fashion. For those that already suffer from stress and depression, the most wonderful time of the year often serves to pile on an already crappy state of mind. A lot of us have gifts to buy, food to prepare, places to be. I get it. Last year, my wife and I went 7 different places over 2 days. It becomes a little tough to maintain a positive and optimistic frame of mind when you’re being pulled in a billion different directions.

This is not the part where I tell you that there are thousands of homeless people in the world, so, suck it up, buttercup. But, I will suggest a couple things that may help keep your positivity and optimism to at least acceptable levels.

1 – Make a list. I actually did this a few weeks ago when I was having one of those days where the negativity was nearly unshakeable. I labeled my list, “Reasons Why Today Is Awesome”. I started the list in the morning and added to it throughout the day. First reason on my list; my wife, son and I woke up today. I ended up with about 50 items for that particular day. They don’t have to be over the top and super in depth. Listing that your sausage biscuit was delicious is a pretty solid addition to a list. Sounds corny, I know. Just try it.

2 – Do something for someone else. Say something nice to someone out of the blue. Compliment someone. Help someone carry groceries from the store to their car. Email someone out of the blue and tell them what they mean to you. Literally none of these things will cost you money, and literally all of these things will make you and the recipient feel awesome. I sincerely believe that one of the easiest ways to stop feeling badly about yourself and your station in life is to stop focusing solely on yourself and figure out what you can do for someone else. Make it happen. It’s worth it.

And, as I have suggested before, and likely will again, if all else fails, listen to some Bob.

Have an awesome Monday,

-A.

Daily Short-hOPT: Knowledge from Bob

“Open your eyes. Look within. Are you satisfied with the life you’re living?” Bob Marley

A lot of what we have dealt with thus far in this endeavor is the positive and optimistic empowerment of self. It is our conviction that being self-aware and ultimately selfless is a key principle to being happy and making those around you happy. (That’s what we’re here for, right?) But, in a sort of selfish sense, this shift in thinking requires introspection. It’s important to try to understand what makes you tick because that knowledge allows you the benefit of understanding why and how certain things affect you.

Given, Bob’s quote wasn’t dealing primarily with the betterment of oneself, although it likely was to a degree. What is at the crux of the quote is, if you took the time to think about where you are, who you have surrounded yourself with and what you believe to be important, would you be happy with your path, or would you realize some things need to change in order to better yourself?

A recurring theme in our blog is how you deal with how you feel. Often, how we feel is the direct result of interactions with others. Through countless conversations with Noah, Amber and others, what I have realized is that how others make you feel is not necessarily their doing, but how your perception eventually controlled your emotions. Generally, negative interactions and circumstances trigger something in you, like insecurities, perceived shortcomings or fear.

Amber and I took pre-marital counseling leading up to our wedding day with Pastor Will Stevens from One Hope Community Church. One thing (from many) that I still recall from those sessions was a statement he made: “Nobody can make you feel any way that you don’t want to feel.” In essence, you control you, and how you react to your external circumstances is completely within your control. So, the idea is, figure out you, and be better at it.

Lastly, when all else fails, listen to some Bob. It’s nearly impossible to be in a bad mood while listening to Bob Marley.

Have an awesome Wednesday,
-A.