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It's always important to self-reflect, and take time out of our busy lives to acknowledge our past experiences. We can learn from them, appreciate them, laugh at them, or even take a moment to feel a little down about them. A new year is always everyone's favourite time to set goals, look forward to exciting plans and feel empowered by the thought of, "this year will be different!"
Well, how do we actually make this year different?
Self-reflect. Self-reflect. Self-reflect. Self-reflect. Self-reflect.
Look in the mirror and let's get to know ourselves better.
So as I looked at myself in the mirror (some days this is pretty damn hard, but that’s okay) these are the 3 very important lessons I learned in 2021.
1. Be like water, my friend
Maybe Bruce Lee knew a thing or three about life. With 2021 being an extremely uncertain and challenging year for many people, it really brought home how important it is to be able to adapt to our surroundings. It was halfway through the NBL season and I wasn’t playing many minutes at all for Adelaide. We were living in the Melbourne NBL hub when Isaac Humphries (a good friend) goes down in the first quarter with a foot injury. My name got called and although I had never played the four, opportunity is opportunity, and we have to seize it no matter how uncomfortable we may feel. It challenged me physically and mentally with so much to learn in a short amount of time. This leads me to play some really good basketball, which then leads me to sign with the Jack Jumpers, which then leads me to play the four spot. All from being water. Adapting.
2. Kindness > Everything
Surround yourself with people that challenge you. Beth (my partner) challenged me to be a kinder more thoughtful person. She did this by being extremely kind and thoughtful to me, and wow did I love it. Beth joined the NBL1 Port Adelaide Bearcats only last off-season and made an impact straight away. Her goal entering the team was to have fun, train hard, lift everyone up around her and share some of her kindness. She went on to have a great season, whether it was cheering her teammates on or grabbing offensive rebounds. Finishing the season by receiving the most improved player award, but more importantly, also snatching teammate of the season, Beth was voted unanimous. Not only was being kind incredible for everyone around her but also extremely rewarding and uplifting for herself.
Since my roommate Fab (Fabijan Krslovic) isn't a huge fan of quotes, I always giggle when I say them or share them. But here is one keeping on the water theme.
3. Value time
Now this one should speak for itself. With border closures, new job opportunities, unexpected life experiences we really never know where we are going to be in 6 months let alone a day. Not many opportunities arose this year to get much family time, but when it did wow it felt good. Now I'm going to keep this short and simple. Take a big breath, and appreciate the people around you and your current time navigating this crazy universe. It might feel mad, but it’s a beautiful madness.
2021 was a good year for me. Sometimes scary, always exciting. Many highs and lows, many missing friends and loved ones, many making new friends and loved ones. 2022 is something I'm extremely looking forward to, and I know we are going to make it bigger and better.