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Overview
Answers To The Struggles Of Life is a very thought provoking book. Smith presents common struggles that athletes experience and the choices they are faced with at different stages in life. The topics are gathered from personal experiences as a youngster, teenager, college student athlete, and life after college as an athlete. The book will help you discover your ultimate goal for yourself and for the ones you love most. Answers To The Struggles Of Life helps athletes of all levels with answering the question "What am I to do with my life after my playing career is over?"
Answers To the Struggles Of Life is a gift to all young adults in the world. The stages of life that a person goes through is unique and unexpected. This book was created to guide an individual along their journey during the various stages of life.
Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781732536180 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | B180 Basketball, Inc |
| Publication date: | 06/03/2022 |
| Sold by: | Barnes & Noble |
| Format: | eBook |
| Pages: | 48 |
| File size: | 1 MB |
| Age Range: | 12 - 17 Years |
About the Author
Read an Excerpt
ANSWERS
To The Struggles of LifeBy David Smith
AuthorHouse
Copyright © 2012 David SmithAll right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4772-0365-1
Chapter One
SacrificeYou have to give something to get something
As a teenager I was never really into the most popular fashions. I spent the majority of my time concentrating on the sports I loved; basketball & football. You guessed it, I was a t-shirt and sweat pants type of person. I'd have many opportunities to get most of the types of clothes and shoes that everyone was wearing. This was in part due to my father working and paying for it. My father worked hard all his life. He only had a high school education, but had the mind of a doctoral recipient. There was a span at the beginning of my teen years when my father worked seven days a week and twelve hours a day. This was the only source of income our family had, so he made sure the best he could that most of our wants and needs were met. He worked at this rigorous, physically, & mentally draining pace for most of his life. During this time that he worked, he stressed the importance of being educated, respectful, honest, and hardworking. He also stressed the importance of sacrifice. He explained the sacrifice that he was making to better the generations after he was gone. He couldn't attend many extra-curricular activities, but he could be there for every holiday. He missed a lot of personal one on one time with me and my siblings because he had to work. There were seven of us and my mother. I was the second oldest and the oldest boy. As I got older, I began to understand more and more about what he was instilling in us. It really didn't matter if we were rich or poor in the end. If you do not prepare the generations that succeed you, you are destined to become extinct. This next generation should be equipped with the knowledge and ethics from you to carry the generation a step further in the future. This all comes from sacrificing. It means giving up something that pleases you for something that may be beneath you, will better the generations after you.
The majority of your life has to be focused on making wise decisions for the generations that come after you. There must be a great example set forth. If you stay away from drugs & alcohol and stress the effects of its harm to the individual and others around them, it will enlighten the individual when they become exposed to it by others. I don't remember a time in my life when my parents talked about or used drugs in my presence. My father however, did drink alcohol. I think his rigorous schedule and work life caused him to drink. He never let it get the best of him though. He was determined to be a leader by example.
Friends come and go. Some may have different values than you. Some may have the same outlook on life as you, but a different way of doing things. Never let someone influence your own thoughts or actions. You have to be a leader in times when friends are making you choose to be in or out. The majority of the time, it's best to be out. Don't get me wrong, having friends are great, but sometimes you have to sacrifice friendships for the better of your future generations. True friends will understand and always be in your life. I remember as a little boy when my family moved to a new school district. I wanted to stay in my old school district because of the friends I had made. In the new district we moved to, I didn't know anyone. It was a lot different than my old school in part because of the diversity of the students. I was completely open to all races. In return, I made new friends and expanded my knowledge of other races and the world as a whole. I believe everyone should try to obtain a good understanding of other races and cultures to help prepare future generations. I wouldn't have been able to obtain this if I would have stayed at my old school.
Family is another sacrifice that an individual must make. This may be the hardest thing that you can choose to do. All of your hopes and dreams are in front of you. Most of the time a choice has to be made to whether part from your family to reach that dream or not. This journey must be made alone because no one but you knows what your dream or goal means to you. The support may be there but not full hearted because it's not their dream or goal. This does not mean that your family is against you. It just means that no one can be you to feel how passionate you are about your dream, mission, or goal. Family is the most important factor in an individual's life. The members of your family will love you unconditional yet, be your worst critic. In the end, you will eventually be able to maintain a balance between your family and your goals if you learn to understand and believe in both. I remember when I left for college; I was scared, happy, anxious, and heartbroken all at the same time. I missed my family all the time. I couldn't turn back though. I felt that if I turned back, I would not be able to set a new standard or experience the full outcome of my own dreams and goals while in college. It hurt bad to not have both. My belief was that this would be a stepping stone for the children that I have.
Sacrifice comes in many ways. Sacrifice means making a decision that prepares you as well as your family for future harmony. It's like living a puzzle. The puzzle can be formed instantly or slowly. The picture that the puzzle makes depends on the decisions you make along your journey. Many individuals may choose the quick and easy way out. Some may even have success. The underlying message that I want you to understand is that you must go through the storm to experience what you will give to your future generations. Never pass the torch without giving your whole heart and soul until the end.
Living an honest, happy, and complete life may seem difficult. I remember when I became a father. I was full of emotions similar to how I felt when entering college. I knew that in order for my children to better themselves as well as the generations after them, they would have to experience many things that I didn't as a kid. I wanted to make that possible as well as stress honesty, doing things the right way, and leading with heart and determination.
Finally, everyone makes some sort of sacrifice every day. It may be saving money for a pair of shoes, to giving up cigarettes or soda pop for better health. Do you think that sacrificing for the sake of your future family generations is important? If the answer is yes, I encourage you to continue reading this book. We will work together on becoming a complete individual that values honesty, leadership, heart, determination, and commitment. You have to start somewhere so, let's begin today. Success will be there in the end!
Chapter Two
Self-FulfillmentDo exactly what you want to do; catch that dream
I can remember dribbling a basketball between my legs up & down the street. I'd do this continuously without making a mistake. I strived every day to be the best in whatever I did. I felt that in order for me to truly understand and admit my own weakness, I had given my best. I then tried to make my weaknesses my strength.
Self-fulfillment means completely experiencing everything that you want out of life and being honest along the way. If you are not honest with yourself you can't move forward. As I dribbled that basketball down the street, I was aware that my right hand was stronger than my left hand. I knew that I couldn't look down at the ball or I would walk into the streets and be hit by a car. Many times life is similar to this, you may have to continue trying not to make a mistake, but if you do, you have to be strong enough and have the heart and determination to start over again. All while keeping your head up and improving your weaknesses.
As you're experiencing what you want out of life, you should pay attention to every detail. This includes the relationships you build, your daily habits & routines, your thoughts & attitudes towards other people you don't know, your religious understanding, and your overall happiness. Many times I use to wonder why I didn't start reading the bible earlier in life. I have a very good understanding of all other religions as well.
As a teenager I remember when I decided to get baptized. I made the decision by myself. There may be times throughout your life that you will want to turn to someone for advice. You probably won't know who to trust either. When you reach this stage, reading your bible from the very beginning to the end, 2 pages one day at a time will help in advising you on what to do. Self-fulfillment is a time when you truly need to be doing exactly what you want to do with your life. If you fail, so what, you have still fulfilled a part of your life that will help in moving your generation forward. Your experiences will help mold not only your children, but also the people you come into contact with throughout your life. However, you have to remember, if life is only meant to fulfill your own personal dreams and goals, then your life will not be complete. Believing that you are needed even when not asked is hard to understand. It may be hard to come back after you feel that you've failed. It will be that moment when you are needed to help others. I know this may seem odd, but give it your absolute best.
Like most young boys my age, I had dreams of playing a professional sport. When the time came for me to experience the life of a professional athlete, I understood what it took. I took advantage of the small opportunities I had. As I went through the tryout process, I began thinking more and more about my life as a professional athlete, my wife, children, and other family members. I realized that I would not be able to see my family as much if I was a professional athlete. The dream of being a professional athlete was not as big as being able to create a long lasting family bond. My view of the life of a professional athlete all of a sudden seemed to diminish. Though this is a sacrifice, the underlying problem that I believed was that being away from your wife and children for long periods of time damages the chance to better the generations after you. There may be monetary success and gain, but where it really counts; which is the hearts of the ones that love you. There would be a failure. Self-fulfillment is an important area in your development. Please understand that this stage is a process that must be completed. Be honest with who you are and what it is that you want.
Chapter Three
ListeningDon't just go by what you believe, see it from their point of view
I remember when I was about 9 years old. I'd listen to my father and mother discuss the bills they were going to pay with the upcoming check. I couldn't say anything to them about what to do with the money because I didn't know what was owed on each bill and I did not earn an income to help pay a bill. This process was very helpful in my development of listening skills. Parents are the amplifiers of information. This information can be positive or negative based on the integrity of the parent. This is a very important point. How you perceive the world and your reaction to the problems in the world may result in someone else listening to information that is filled with a positive or negative emotional tone. We all were a kid once. The most influential and motivating people in our lives whether good or bad are our parents. Listening is a learned art. It takes a lot of practice. If you are able to listen to a person and truly put yourself in their situation, then you are able to understand their point of view. I'm not talking about a person that listens but zones in and out when another person is talking. Listening and hearing are two different processes. It's similar to saying you love someone when deep down you are not really sure if you do.
Being a good listener will enable you to help some of your closest friends as well as your other personal relationships. Most individuals simply want to be heard. They would rather talk than listen. I don't know why it is such, but if you can understand a person from their perspective you will continuously grow as an individual. Life will be full of opportunities to help others. Make sure you take advantage of them. You'll find that the more you give, the more you will get in return. In today's day and age, the use of technology has hindered the art of listening to another person. The rule should be to talk and listen to someone face to face or in person three times more than you interact with them through technology. A simple lunch appointment would work.
There was a time when I wasn't a good listener. It seemed like whatever my mother or father would say to me, I'd do the opposite. I never took time to really analyze what they were asking or telling me to do. I also didn't take the time to see things from their perspective. It was all about me. Remember this; being a good listener will help you through all stages of your life—child, teen, adult, parent, and grandparent.
Chapter Four
Doing what's RightMost of the time it will hurt more to do things the right way
This may be the hardest thing for a person to do. The world is full of short cuts, easy ways, deceptions, and cheats. If you truly want something, do things the correct way to attain it. This will make attaining it worthwhile. If you choose not to do things the right way and you still obtain your goal, you will always second guess yourself. You will not be able to encourage yourself to do simple daily tasks with your absolute best effort. Therefore, by cheating to win—you really lose over and over again.
I remember running a mile that was timed. In my mind I knew I was going to give my best to be first. I wasn't going to fake like I had a cramp or another injury to get out of running. I wanted to be first and I wanted to have everyone that I was running against to give their best effort. As I began the last lap in the mile run, I remember subconsciously picturing myself coming in with the best time.
What I mean by this is that instead of trying to find a short cut or a way to cheat, try picturing yourself in your own mind winning by doing things the right way. Anybody can find a short cut, but very few can continuously picture honest success because it requires hard work. You will have many friends ridicule you because you choose to do what's right. You'll think huh, some friend. It's a choice that you will live with. Just remember, your past and future generations are counting on you.
Doing what's right means opening and closing the door for others, being polite and courteous, saying "hello", "please", and "thank you". It also means saying no when you have to when everyone else is saying yes. I guarantee that this last one will be a constant battle. Everyday a choice will have to be made. Please choose what's right.
Chapter Five
DiversityLet go of your beliefs to understand everyone around you
The world is full of many different races, cultures, beliefs, and religions. There is not one greater or lesser than any other. What will make a person unique is the number of different people they actually get to know. I don't mean holding a short conversation with someone while still holding your original perception about the person. I mean really getting to understand the person. This is where your listening skills will help you. As you begin to understand other people, you will begin to grow even more into a complete person. No one can take away the experiences you gain. I don't mean to take on another person's belief or religion. I mean just truly respect and understand them from their perspective and way of life not yours. You will still be able to have your own view or perspective. Hopefully, they will respect yours.
Diversity has been a part of our world since the beginning of time. Lives are made and ruined based on their decisions about diversity. People are people, if you want to be acquainted with someone who is not like you, it's totally fine. Never listen to outsiders. They are simply telling you what they believe to be true. If you are able to put yourself in their shoes and understand what they have been through in their life, you will be able to understand why they are saying what they say to you. To grow into a complete person, acceptance of everyone must be mastered. It will take time, but remember time goes by fast so change yourself, don't ask the person to change. I remember my first encounter with someone from another country. I was in college. I'd talk to the person as if I knew their language and belief. I really tried to understand the person. My deep down feeling was that this individual had something to teach me. I would not be complete without trying to understand this individual from their perspective. I never looked at the color of their skin, their religion, or where they were from. I actually wanted to learn from each encounter that I had with the person. If you are able to put your own judgments on race and religion aside and never use them as a barrier, you will overcome more obstacles in your lifetime than the majority of the world. Embrace diversity! (Continues...)
Excerpted from ANSWERS by David Smith Copyright © 2012 by David Smith. Excerpted by permission of AuthorHouse. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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Table of Contents
Contents
Dedication
Acknowledgments
Chapter 1 - Sacrifice
Chapter 2 - Self-Fulfillment
Chapter 3 - Listening
Chapter 4 - Doing What's Right
Chapter 5 - Diversity
Chapter 6 - Leadership
Chapter 7 - Family