Trajectory

If there is one thing I know, it’s how to shoot a basketball. I’m no Steve Nash, but I played long enough that I can be just about anywhere on the court and toss the ball up and have some idea where the rim is and what it takes to get it to the hoop. The interesting thing about that particular skill is that it has carried over into my life.

My family knows how much I love basketball. I played ball up until about 2 years ago. I never had a vertical. I was never very good on defense (Suffering from white man disease. Also known as a slow first step…). But I could launch if given a chance. And it always had a chance to go in. So bare with me when I tell you that my life is every bit just like my shot. It might not be the prettiest thing out there, but it has a chance to make it to the hoop…and sometimes it’s all about a little luck and having the balls to take the shot. In my case, I can say I have done both…and the thing that maybe sets me apart from some people is that I understand “trajectory”.

Websters describes “trajectory” as ” the curve that a body describes in space “. I have no idea what that means. Mostly it has something to do with the way planets move in space. Uh…whatever. In basketball, the trajectory of the ball is what gives the ball a shot at going through the hoop. In the years that I’ve played basketball, being a 5’11” guard, the first thing you have to learn is what kind of trajectory to put on a ball to get it over a defender and either into the hoop or to your teammate. At least, that was always MY way of thinking. I liked scoring. It was what I lived to do most of my years from 14-34. If I wasn’t thinking about girls, I was thinking basketball. And both involved scoring! Soooo that worked out well. Aaaanyway…back to my point…

As I was shooting around at the gym the other day, I got thinking about my life. All of my life I’ve always felt lucky. Doesn’t matter if it’s in sports, or with jobs, or with my family and friends. I am a very lucky fellow. But I don’t know if it’s ALL luck. As I see what is happening in our world, I wonder if sometimes it’s not only luck…but knowing the correct trajectory I need to from Point A to Point B. I am not the world’s smartest guy by any means (that honor goes to my brother!), but I have always made the best out of any situation that I’ve been put in. Once again…not necessarily smart, not necessarily lucky…but maybe it’s just something in me that seems to know the right place to put up the ball. I see a lot of people who mope and whine and bitch about things. I’ve always tried to be a little sunnier and a little more forward thinking than that. Yes…I do my share of griping on this site. And my friends know that I can bitch with the best of them. But when it comes down to who do you want on your team, most find me to be a pretty good teammate. I always want the ball…and I always know what trajectory I will need when I put it in the air. It’s years of practice and a lot of missed shots…but I don’t mind taking it if you want me to.

It’s all about trajectory. You can put it up there, arc it high and know that it’s going in. Or you can fire it up flat and watch it bounce away. Today I have 3 people in my family who need me to MAKE that shot. In my mind, I know I can do it and I plan to never let them down. I plan on being the game-winner for the rest of my life. It’s what I have always wanted…to take the game-winning shot.

And now I’m doing it everyday.