Dear Andrew,
You are so very lucky.
Take time to be grateful in the moment.
Be grateful for your friends,
Who you get to see every week in the pursuit of something that is truly awesome and very difficult.
This is not normal. You are very lucky.
Be grateful for your family,
Who are not only there for the highs and lows but have the strength to tell you hard truths. A skill that is harder to find then you think.
Be grateful for basketball,
It will teach you so much about life. It will teach you about teamwork, sacrifice, hard work, obstacles, leadership, communication, pain, and joy.
I know what your first question will be and yes, I promise you will get to play.
Not just one game, but 250.
I can also tell you nothing great happens without sacrificing, but nothing worth doing happens without joy.
Don’t be so caught in the weight of expectation, comparison and self-doubt that you lose sight of what’s important: The people you are on this ride with, and how much fun this is.
I promise you won’t remember your best games or your worst ones.
But you will remember trainings. You’ll remember car rides (whether the car makes it or not), early morning shooting sessions, end of season functions, road trips.
Basketball doesn’t last forever, but your friendships will.
Lastly, listen to others. Even when it’s difficult.
Oh, and get your licence. Hayds, Ness and your family are sick of driving you around.
Love,
Andrew Black