[日記] Out of The Box With Unique #1 [6/13/2005]
Out of the Box With Unique June 13
Hi there!!! Although life has been
pretty busy lately, it has been great
for me. I hope that everybody out there
accomplished everything they set out to
do this week. On the flip side, I sure
didn’t follow through with everything
that I had planned. I slipped up on the
easiest thing—to take my vitamins everyday.
I know it sounds like I am stressing over
nothing but my self discipline is important
to me. Taking care of my body is very important
if I want to live a healthy lifestyle and compete
at a high level. This past off-season I started
practicing mental fasting where I try to give up
something that I enjoy for a period of time. I try
to give up something that I often crave or that is
visibly put in front of me due to my environment.
For example, while I was in Spain this off-season
I gave up alcoholic beverages for two months. After
that two month period, I had some champagne at a
gala only to give it up again the next day for
another month! It’s not that I drink a lot but in
the European culture they like to have wine or some
other alcoholic beverage at each meal (except breakfast).
I just didn’t want to pick up that habit even though
I do like a glass of wine here and there (come on,
I’m 27 years old). This practice of mental fasting
really helps me strengthen my mind and discipline
myself. I try to challenge myself constantly because
it feels good to know what you have accomplished.
I’m sure many of you saw us suffer a tough loss to
Sacramento last Saturday on ABC. It was a tough loss
for us but we learned a lot about ourselves from
watching the tape of the game. We arrived back in
L.A. around 8:30pm Saturday night and Coach Bibby
made us meet at the practice facility to watch the
tape as a team. As you know, tape doesn’t lie and
boy, we were horrible! As we critiqued the tape we
saw the areas in which we need to improve as a team
and individually. After leaving the practice facility
around 11:30pm, we were back in the lab at 9am the
following morning. I can see how everyone has
stepped up and is making a conscious effort to
better themselves and the team. We played the
Phoenix Mercury Wednesday night at home. We ended
up suffering another loss - this time by three points.
Yes, this was a tough loss but we have to keep
fighting and pushing on. Things will turn around
for us…We just have to keep our environment positive.
Since we are struggling and not living up to the hype
right now, people (outsiders) will start talking and
pointing fingers. Believe me, we will get it together –
I’m 100 percent sure about that. We just have to
get our swagger back. Go Sparks!!
After practice was over on Sunday, I felt like I
needed a mental break. I went home and ate some
lunch and then headed to Venice beach with my boy Mac.
The weather was so nice! We just walked up and
down the boardwalk talking about whatever. I ran
into so many old friends it was unbelievable. I ran
into Marcus Haislip (played at Tennessee and for
the Milwaukee Bucks), Lem Fishburne (who I went to
Queens Lutheran with for 6th,7th, and 8th grade—his
brother is actor Laurence Fishburne), Otis Anderson
(NFL player for my home team the NY Giants), and some
Tennessee fans. These fans were all decked out in
their Lady Vols gear because our softball team was
competing in the College World Series. Go Lady Vols!
It’s great to be a Tennessee Lady Vol!! I spent
most of my time talking and enjoying the weather.
It was nice to see so many old but familiar faces.
Next stop was the Cheesecake Factory to celebrate
Whit’s birthday. Whit (Tamika Whitmore) turned 27,
so a few people got together to celebrate her born day.
Oh! Before I forget, one the highlights this week
was getting the chance to check out the hip hop
artist Common at the House of Blues on Sunset.
Oh boy was I in heaven. Common is one of my favorite
hip hop artists – he is phenomenal. I enjoyed the
show so much. It was great seeing his energy in
person. Of course he did his thing and kept the crowd
hyped. MC Lyte made a guest appearance, so of course
that was a treat. What makes him so good is that he
doesn’t talk about guns and shooting people – his
style is more conscious hip hop and he does a great
job of getting his point across. I will honestly
remember his performance for the rest of my life.
If you like hip hop you’ve got to check out his
new CD called BE. It is his best work thus far
and is rising on the charts this week (it’s #2
on the Billboard charts). It will definitely be
a classic. Mark my word.
Many people have come up to me and offered their
experience with meditation since I mentioned it
is something that helps me in my daily life. When
I went to play in Korea in 2002, I was introduced
to Buddhism. In Asia, many people are Buddhist
and after being there for four months, I just
became intrigued. Since then I have opened myself
up to learning as much as possible about Buddhism.
When I tell people I’m into Buddhism, the first
thing they ask is “You don’t believe in God?”
Yes, I‘m a Christian and I do believe in God.
Even though Buddhism is a religion, I study it
as a philosophy. It offers pointers on life that
help me wake up and focus in my life so that I
can live more completely. I want to thank Tyrone
Terrill, the director of Human Rights in St. Paul,
Minnesota, who gave me my first book on Buddhism,
“Being Black,” by Angel Kyodo Williams. You were
right, this was one of the greatest books ever
written. It has given me a greater understanding
of life. Now I know why Phil Jackson loves to use
Zen in his coaching.
It’s time for me to say goodbye until next week.
Thanks for coming and checking me out again. Everyone
have a great week and over the weekend try to do
something fun that will make you smile. Peace and
Blessings- Unique #1
Thought for the Week:
Do not believe in anything simply because you have
heard it. Do not believe in anything simply because
it is spoken and rumored by many. Do not believe in
anything simply because it is found written in your
religious books. Do not believe in anything merely
on authority of your teachers and elders. Do not
believe in traditions because they have been handed
down for many generations. But after observation,
and analysis, when you find that anything agrees with
reason and is conducive to the good and the benefit
of one and all, then accept it and live up to it. - Buddha
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