I want to take a moment to speak on something that has been on my heart lately – calling it quits in life. Now I want to preface by saying that this is a topic that would normally be something detrimental, is definitely something that we are all about when living simplified and focused. It is not meant to be taken in a negative way by any means, but in a positive one that will spark a change in you like it has in me today!

The best way to get the point across is to talk from personal experience. So here it goes…

Since I was little kid living in the South Bronx, New York, I have loved and played basketball. It has been a part of my life that helped shape many of the values that I believe and follow off the court. Studying film, plays, working on the fundamentals, you name it, it was a good way to make friends, stay in shape, but most of all do something that I loved to do.

So let’s fast-forward 20 some odd years into the present, 2011. I’ve played basketball on almost every coast but the north coast of the USA I played semi-pro, had a chance to play in the pros, I have been blessed to have had basketball in my life! But my love for the game of basketball just is not there anymore.

Why you say? I don’t know, maybe the birth of my second child, my oldest daughter’s introduction into the wide world of sports, physically starting to feel the wear and tear of 2 decades of basketball, being more involved with the community, church, school, additional work duties and responsibilities and just plain old maturation have set in. I knew that a decision had to be made and had to be made soon, but I continued to procrastinate and convince myself to keep going.

Then it dawned on me friends, it was just plain time to call it quits. I came to the realization when our priest spoke the following one day at church and I came across this quote from the great Alexander Graham Bell:

“When one door closes another door opens; but we so often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door, that we do not see the ones which open for us.” – Alexander Graham Bell

My time was up. It was time to move on. My body had been telling me for a couple of years already, but I continued to convince myself otherwise. Plus when playing basketball as of late, it just was not fun because I knew that I could be somewhere else much more important. I had to quit what I was doing period! It did not mean that that would be the end of the road, but the beginning of a new one – if I was looking for it!

My true personal story is just an analogy, but if there is something in your life that has grown stale, is no/not good for you, then take the message that I am relaying to heart today:

…quitting something you do or love in live can be hard, but sometimes it is worth it so you can move on to the next thing that is in store for you which you will most likely love even more.

You can go on forever pushing yourself to continue on how you have, but just remember that you ARE NOT being true to yourself. Life evolves, you must evolve!

Know your limits in life, but don’t be afraid to explore others. You are not a failure for not doing something in life unless you say you are. If anyone else says otherwise, oh well; they probably couldn’t fill your shoes if they tried and they and you know it!

So how have I ended up? Actually pretty well. I am in the best shape of my life at this point. I run long distance, weight train, bicycle, walk, you name it. The biggest gain has been that instead of me hanging with the fellas shooting hoops, I exercise out with my family which, sorry fellas, is much much more important to me at this phase of my life.

Remember friends, you only get one life. So love and live it like you can no other. And always understand, which is what I have learned from everything thus far, is that the present will be the past in no time, so keep fluid and look ahead for the greatness that lies ahead for you.
So until next time friends, I will leave you with this:

What is The Sunday Special? The Sunday Special is a series of blogs devoted to Sunday’s what they are for and all about.

As many of us know, Sunday is considered the day of rest. Sunday is a good day to snuggle up with those you love and enjoy them, the day, surroundings, love and life itself. Too many times, we fail to reflect on the meaning of life and our lives and think it is all about the grind and struggle, but in actuality it is the opposite. It is to have the mindset of humbleness, gratefulness, love and to live life the way it was envisioned – with peace. It is to enjoy today and be in the now.

Looking at the picture above, let me tell you what Sunday (or your equivalent day) should mean to us. Sunday should be the most important day in our whole entire week. Sunday in the picture is not at the top of the stack, but at the bottom and for good reason. Sunday should be the base for your soul. Sunday, in Christian religions and faiths, is considered to be the day of worship and rest. It is the day that our Lord God finished making the heavens and the earths and rested.

Sunday, the end of the weekend for some, the beginning of a new week for others, should always be treated with high regard and respect regardless how you see it. Normally on Sundays some of us kick back to some sports (on TV or outside), while other worship and others yet pick up and work on pet projects, Sundays are that day that we kick back. Kiddos normally do not have anything going on, many stores are closed, Sundays are held in high regard in our communities by many. Sunday should be a day that you not only recharge your spirit and self via devotion, family, relaxation, etc, but it should also serve as your preparation to embark on your journey for the coming week as well. In the same breath, Sunday should be a day filled with love and peace, not a lot of running around and errands, but smelling the roses, hugging our loved ones, being still and embracing life in all its glory.

I know some of us, for reasons beyond our control, cannot enjoy the day like we want. Some of us travel on Sunday to go back home from vacation, or head out to the next client site for the week; we understand that life sometimes does not and can not stop on Sunday’s. But just because of this, it does not mean that you can succumb to the pressures of not being able to enjoy your Sunday. Keep things / thoughts with you to bring you to your point of peace on this day amongst these travels, so that you can keep yourself grounded. Be it a call back home, sending text messages or emails to your loved ones, social networking, reading scriptures, being still and breathing nice and easy, take time to relax and love yourself as many of us do and experience life between your spurts.

We all have lives that are challenging and hard, but make sure that you treat your Sundays as the foundation for your life. Like the rocks, the Sunday base rock holds all the rest of days (rocks) together. Even though the picture may seem unreal, trust me it is real and these rocks do balance . As much as the other rocks will move, shift, fall off, Sunday never will. Sunday will always be there to support you through thick or thin. Just make sure that you keep Sunday first and foremost in your life and it will reciprocate. If your Sunday is really a Wednesday or a Monday, then make those days “Your Sunday” each and every week, no excuses.

All of us can only go so long before we need to slow down, recharge, re-energize. Don’t pass up the opportunity given to many of us to enjoy your day with family, friends, food, fun, peace, relaxation and love. Be true to yourself and enjoy yourself on your Sunday. It will make a world of difference!