Crystal Nuding

We took a road trip this weekend to the lake (Possum Kingdom Lake, in Texas). The sunsets are always beautiful. It’s a nice 4 hour drive. Far enough to make you feel like you’ve gone somewhere, but not so far that it takes up your whole weekend getting there and back.  While driving, we talk, sing or sit in peaceful silence.  It feels so good to really unwind and relax after a full week.

The song Centerfield, by John Fogerty came on. Clap. Clap. ClapClapClap. Clap. Clap. ClapClap. I was immediately taken back to my childhood, riding in my Daddy’s pickup truck windows down coming home from school, singing this song and realizing it was about baseball.  I smiled at myself and sang along. “Put me in coach, I’m ready to play today. Look at me, I can be, centerfield.”

I then thought of my days of playing basketball in high school.  Taking a breather on the bench and then being ready to jump back into the game. Watching the action and seeing what the other team is doing and realizing what the next move could be. Leaning down the bench and saying to Coach Courtney, “Put me in Coach, I’m ready to play”.

I miss that. Playing basketball on a team. The flow of the game.  The hard sprints, juking and defending, falling down and getting back up, passing the ball or taking the ball to the basket when it’s right. It’s a game and we play it with our friends and teammates.  Some of them are our best friends, but some we may not fully appreciate. (there is always something to appreciate) But the point is we are a team and our objective is doing our very best and hopefully the outcome will result in a win. (but if it doesn’t, the fact that we all did our best is a win)

I love that about sports. It brings all kinds of people together. Money, political party, social status (hilarious) or race all unimportant, we’re on the same team. And we ARE on the same team. The human team. It’s a really fun game to play when you don’t take things so seriously.

No matter what you are faced with, it’s not that bad. Certainly not as bad as your mind (and the news) might be telling you it is. Death is a transition back into the bliss of the non-physical. (for everyone) So, nothing to fear there. Pain is inevitable, but suffering is optional. When you can allow yourself to be with the pain for just a moment, it can go away. But our minds wrap us up in the story over why and how bad it is. This does nothing but perpetuate the situation. Bless our hearts.

Relax and breathe. Forget about the situation for a minute and let your self have a moment of peace. Feel what you feel and allow yourself to move through it. These feelings of upset and hurt don’t have to last forever. It’s only our mind that keeps bringing them back up and our inability to just sit and be with the feelings that doesn’t allow them to move on out. Like water off a ducks back… feel what you feel and move on. You can do it. Talking about or focusing on what you don’t want only creates more and more of that in your life.

If things don’t go the way you want, say, “Oh well, what’s my next move?” This is the game of life. Get up every morning, ready to play, ready to do your best at whatever you do. Ready to focus on what’s working and let go of what’s not. Great coaches don’t point out our shortcomings and then drone on about them, they point us in the direction we need to go. Guiding us toward what and where to focus to make our game better.

Let your awareness be that great coach. Let what you don’t want be an easy reminder that there’s something better to focus on. If you don’t want to be sick, focus on your health and all the ways you feel good and are healthy. Learn how to play the game. How many times have we heard that? Life is a game too, you know. You get to choose how you’re going to play in every moment. Are we going through Door #1 filled with fear and negativity, or will we choose Door #2 that is full of possibility, ease and potential. Your attitude and focus are everything.

Don’t let things that are out of your control ruin your here and now. Your life and how you feel everyday is what is truly important. We have full control over that with our focus and intention. Find the bright side and focus on it. A wise man once told me that life is 10% what God gives you and 90% what you make of it. (Thanks Daddy for starting me on the road to my enlightenment!) Attitude is everything.

What are you making of your life? Are you letting your own focus make you unhappy or letting situations outside of yourself determine how you feel? Are you listening to things that upset you and make you mad? Turn it off. Focus on what’s good in your life right now. No one has power over you. You are the creator of your own life through your focus and intention. Intend now to be happy. To allow energy to move freely, naturally. Intend to spend more time appreciating and less time criticizing. Soothe yourself in the quiet of your own mind. Tell the story of what you want and see what happens.

This can seem at first much easier said than done, but I am here to tell you that life is good and it only gets better. You can figure this out on your own, or you can get help if you need it. I’ve been there and am fully aware of all the tricks your mind (the devil) likes to play on you. I can soothe you and help you get a better perspective. There is always a better perspective. Recognize your own power in your life and embrace it. It may seem scary at first, but who better to determine your future than you. It can be whatever you want. It’s never too late and there is no such thing as a missed opportunity.

Get excited about life. You can be your own great coach, it just takes a little practice. Everyone starts somewhere and where you are is perfect. Abraham once said that behind every great athlete is a great coach that saw their potential before they were able to see it themselves.

And that person for you, is me.

I love you so much,

Crystal