Grateful in the Grind: Finding the Reason

I’ve always been taught by my parents that everything happens for a reason. That mindset has stuck with me, especially the part about being honest with yourself and the situation you’re in. It’s easy to say things happen for a reason when life is going your way. It’s harder when they’re not. But that’s when it matters most.

We just wrapped up our preseason and played our first official game—on the road, against one of the top teams in the league. We fought hard. We competed. But in the end, they came out on top. Still, the game showed us a lot. We saw where we need to grow, but we also saw that we can hang with the best. If we clean up the little mistakes, we’ll be right there with them. And eventually, we’ll beat them.

I wasn’t able to play. I’ve been dealing with a minor ankle injury. Nothing major, but enough to keep me sidelined for now. The plan is to rest and rehab—strengthen the ankle, build up my core and hips, and make sure that when I do come back, I’m ready to go. Slowly but surely.

Like I said, everything happens for a reason. When I face tough situations, I fall back on that belief. I trust there’s a reason I’m not supposed to be on the court right now. Maybe it’s to grow in other ways. Maybe it’s to support my teammates from the sideline. Either way, I’m staying locked in—keeping my cardio up, eating right (which is actually pretty easy here), and learning the European game from a different perspective.

This time off has also given me space to focus on things outside of basketball—things I’m passionate about. I’ve been diving into investing, learning more about real estate, staying connected with friends and family, and trying to get back in touch with nature. I haven’t been able to walk much lately, but that’s improving. Walking is getting better, and soon I’ll be back out there—moving with purpose, staying grounded, and getting ready to attack whatever comes next.