Keeping it Real

My coaching colleague and I finally wave down a taxi and jump in. We are in China and we don’t speak Chinese and he doesn’t speak English; this is going to be interesting. Thank goodness we downloaded translators on our phones, or else there is no telling where we would have ended up. We show the driver where we want to go, he starts the meter, and we are off. Then all of a sudden, the driver starts talking in full paragraphs to us like we know what he is saying. My colleague and I look at each other with a smirk and began to speak back about every random thing we can think of. This is done with lots of animation and energy and goes on for a couple of dialogues without anyone knowing what anyone else is saying; it was quite humorous. It ends with lots of laughter, pats on the shoulder and smiles.

We have been coaching a program called Train the Trainers with anywhere from 200 to 500 coaches. When walking into a gym where there is a language barrier, it can be a question of, ‘how am I going to teach and speak with everyone for four days with two sessions each?’ Again the translator saves the day, but they don’t always portray the emotion that I’m are trying to get across. There were times that I would say something with lots of enthusiasm while running and jumping and the translator would say it standing still in a monotone voice. I usually busted out laughing when that would happen. Basketball is a universal language, so most people can understand what you are saying with your actions and attempts of informal sign language (and may I say, it’s lots and lots of informal sign language lol). But what makes it all enjoyable is how you speak with the people around you and the interaction. Sometimes words don’t do your actions justice. So when I am coaching, I am constantly moving around smiling, enjoying what I am doing, encouraging those who are with me, having a great time with all and any situation that is dealt. This comes from within. Whatever is in your heart is what spews out of you. Do you have love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness? People can see those characteristics that you have and usually mimic the excitement and joy of it. Yes, being collected and professional is something that we should encompass, but don’t forget to be real. These days you always have to be politically correct and articulate in a business fashion, but in all honesty, I say, encompass what is needed for that situation, but don’t get lost in all the jib-jab. Be you, don’t be afraid to let your personality show. It’s all about your attitude and being the light in your own life, so you can be the light in someone else’s and lift them to a place of inspiration and hope.

I went downstairs to grab some yogurt for breakfast. As I grabbed it in the container, I was looking for the spoon, and there was no spoon, only straws. So a new place with different ways than my own to eat yogurt. I am totally down. So I stuck a straw in the top and drank it like a smoothie. I think I might adopt this back in the States, less silverware to wash lol. I love trying new ways for me to experience life. Although I will say, chopsticks can be a bit of a struggle, especially when my hand begins to cramp after trying so hard to use them… They won’t get the best of me lol. I did take a break from them and ate some amazing Mexican food the other day. I can neither confirm nor deny that it was actually Taco Tuesday haha…(and for those that need to know, Mexican food is one of my favorites!).

​Stay Blessed and Uplifted!