Tag Archives: sports

Inspiration

One victory is all it takes

By DAVID TEPERA | Posted: Tuesday, December 20, 2016 

Have you ever noticed that when a sports team is having consecutive losses people want key players fired? I hear people saying, “that lousy bum isn’t worth all that money.”

But as soon as the team has an impressive win, people change their minds knowing these players are really exceptional. Now they are saying, “I knew we would make the playoffs.”

Isn’t it amazing that after all the losses, it only takes one good victory to change everyone’s thought process?

Admit it, we’ve all felt that way about certain sports players, even other people in our lives.

It’s not fair, but this is how life and others treat us, too.

Maybe you’re the one going through a string of losses. It seems like one situation after another is not going your way.

Why am I having so many challenges at work? Why is there a miscommunication with my family? I’m working my tail off and no one is giving me respect. I’m really getting frustrated and depressed.

Ok, we all deal with those situations, but today you’ll turn the corner.

Just like in sports, all you need is one victory to change the course. All it takes is the feeling of accomplishment to create the right mindset.

These victories can be as small as organizing your office, finishing projects at work, home or school, and possibly doing yard work and cleaning the garage. The short-list is endless according to your lifestyle.

You might need to have an adult conversation with someone and come to a mature conclusion. You’ll both feel better — believe me.

Once a string of small victories takes place, they’ll snowball into a playoff championship run.

Remember, our sports teams don’t start the season in the playoffs. They have to succeed in a certain number of wins to get there. Those teams, just like us, have plenty losses along the way.

But, it’s the team that doesn’t let losses keep them down that make it to the championship game.

It’s OK for people to doubt you, but never doubt yourself.

Today is your comeback day. You’ll be the master of victories and the conqueror of life. Now get out there and kick some.

Inspiration

Keep filling the glass

By DAVID TEPERA | Posted: Tuesday, September 6, 2016

We’ve all heard the expression, “Is the glass half full or half empty?” I read once from a positive thinker that you should not look at it that way and just keep filling the glass. Now if you really think about it, that’s a powerful statement.

It’s easy for us to think that all difficult situations are much worse than they truly are. But look back over your life when you faced these difficulties. I bet you made it through each and every one of them. Somehow and someway, situations seem to work themselves out. And, I wouldn’t be surprised if most of them turned out to be a blessing.

You might have heard bad news from a doctor which forced you to live a healthier lifestyle. Now your quality of life has never been better.

Maybe you were terminated from an employer which led to a better opportunity of a dream job. Now you’re happy and making more income.

Some of you were thrown into an unexpected divorce. But now, you get to lead a more adventurous and productive life.

The list is endless, but it’s up to your mentality to create a better outcome.

It’s these situations where we find how determined and strong we are. We’ve all heard of disasters that happened to cities where heroes seem to emerge to help others. Well guess what? You are one of those heroes, too. There’s times when you are faced with no other choice but to conquer Goliath.

Even our children can learn these lessons from an early age. For example: A friend of mine’s 10th-grade son was devastated that he didn’t make the varsity football team. He was placed on the JV team to which he played both offense and defense. It was the best season of his young career, and he was voted most valuable player.

It’s inevitable; we’ll continue to face adversities throughout life. Just remember to keep filling the glass and conquer the day.

Inspiration

Players learn to be good sports through good coaches

By DAVID TEPERA | Posted: Wednesday, February 4, 2015

When my son Dylan was 11 years old, I coached his youth basketball team. We had a successful season, all the players improved, had lots of fun, except for one situation. We were down to our last game and one of the players, whom I will call John, hadn’t scored a goal all season, even though he had equal playing time as his teammates.

Before our last game started, I talked to our opponent’s coach, Kevin Dapper, and explained the situation. I asked Coach Dapper, when the game is down to the last 2 minutes and if John hasn’t scored, would his team agree to let him score a basket? He gathered his 11 year old team together and they all happily agreed.

Well, the game was under 2 minutes and John hadn’t scored. I nodded to Coach Dapper, and he signaled his team.

You see, all of John’s family was at this particular game including, not only parents and siblings, but grandparents and out of town relatives.

We inbounded the ball, passed it to John, who proceeded clumsily down the court. The opponents acted like they were defending but giving John a pathway, and after a few attempts, made his first and only basket of the season.

I leaped about 5 feet in the air with the biggest scream. His family were on their feet yelling at the top of their lungs. John was running back down the court with the biggest grin imaginable.

It was the first time to witness 11 year old boys excited for an opponent to score against them.

We might have lost that game on the scoreboard, but you would have never known by the celebration we were having.

Just know, all these boys are in high school now, and Coach Dapper is still coaching youth sports and teaching good sportsmanship.

Coach Dapper, even after all these years, I still tip my hat.