So, here we are again. You guys are probably wondering what's going on with the GC women's basketball team and I'm inevitably being one of the worst bloggers of all time. Please forgive me. My schedule is only a little hectic. And when I say little, I mean like mad, crazy busy at all hours of the day. But anyways, with that being said here goes nothing...
Friday will mark my last official "first day" of practice in my last season of basketball ever. Scary huh? I'd like to think so. For the past 17 years of my life, each day has been filled with basketball to some capacity. So I guess this is what it comes down to; putting it all on the line one last time and dedicating myself to the first love of my life every single day until my last play. I gotta say it's really bittersweet. I mean, let's be real...I will definitely NOT miss two-a-days or 7am morning workouts. But even still I think I'd take more two-a-days and tons of sprints for a few more years to get a chance to go out three nights a week and feel the excitement that you feel when you're playing ball. I mean for some of you, you may have never felt what I'm talking about and some of you may have felt it in different ways. But it really is unlike anything you could imagine. I'm not sure I'll ever feel the way I feel when I play basketball again in my life -- or at least not so often. It's like this rush and excitement. It's like you walk on the court and you know it's where you belong. It's something that makes moms cry and dads proud, makes your siblings look up to you, something that makes your best friend drive three hours from Boone to cheer you on. It's a source of identity for some. An outlet for others. Those are the things that I'll miss about basketball. I wonder alot if I'll ever find something that I love like I love basketball. I mean what job can you really feel like you win at? No, but really. Who knows, maybe one day I'll feel differently...
But the one thing I'll really miss about basketball is being a part of a team. Our team this year is filled with alot of new faces and and some veterans. It took us along time to get the freshmen to talk, ane now we can't get them to shut up!! Ha, no but they are great girls. I couldn't imagine finishing up my career with a better group. It's those bonds that you make when you're a part of a team that you can't replace. There is just something about being on a team that is different than any other bond -- it's like you know that that specific group has your back no matter what. They're there to laugh with, cry with, vent to...you name it, they'll be there. You don't get those kinds of friends everyday. I remember when I finished my last game of high school I thought to myself, "Man, it can't get better than this." Well let me tell you, it doesn't even compare to what I have experienced here. I have loved every moment that I have put on a Guilford College jersey...good, bad or ugly. I don't regret it one bit. Years from now, I'll look back and reminisce about these days. I know one day I'll be on other "teams" but none will be like what I have with my basketball girls.
With all that said, we start practice Friday and we have our goals set for the season. I know that six months from now, my life will change drastically and I'll have to find "me" without basketball but until then I'm looking forward to the season that's in front of me and I'm not taking it for granted. When I look back on it and it's all over, I want to know that we gave it our best effort and got what we wanted out of it. We have something something special this season, something different. And I'm not just saying that because that's what you're supposed to say. I genuinely feel that we have something different this year. I'm excited to get started and see where the season takes us. I will be back soon to let you know how everything is playing out.
God Bless
-- Lauren
"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine as children do. It's not just in some of us; it is in everyone. And as we let our own lights shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others." -- Marianne Williamson
