Take the Shot

In life, we have a choice between one thing or another in every aspect of our lives. When we wake up, we decide if we hit snooze on the alarm to sleep a little longer or get up and face the day. Our decisions either haunt us or strengthen us. Without making a choice, your choice is made. Choosing nothing means you've chosen to remain in your current situation.

I am reminded of my early years in high school when I played basketball as a starting player on my Wildcats team. My position was a power forward. I was very serious about the game then, as I am with pickleball today. I can enjoy myself, but my ultimate goal is to win.

My team and I were playing against a team that we beat easily year after year; therefore, my teammates didn't take the game seriously. After trailing at halftime, they began to play better, but the other team played harder and with more grit. My disappointment with my teammates became self-evident in our timeouts; though, it didn't help. We made it to the last 4 seconds of the game with a 2 point deficit and we had the ball. My friend Renee took the ball out from the other team's backcourt. I had to fight to get open. Once I got the ball on their side of the court, I through the ball to our basket and walked off the court in disappointment, because my team did not play our opponents with due diligence.

As I walked off the court, the opposing team's fans grew silent, and my teammates ran to me cheering. Somehow, I made the shot. I wouldn't have been able to make the shot without actually taking it. Sometimes in life, we don't know what our outcome is going to be in various situations. What's important is TAKING the SHOT. Who knows, you just might make it.