It’s November 21st When I first got the idea about forever be ready I was honestly in a state of depression. My mind wasn’t completely there because basketball was not going for me the way I wanted it to be. It was my junior year and I had sat the first 6 games of the season and then went to only playing 10 minutes in a game and that’s when I thought I was done with basketball. Physically I had trained all year to kill my opponents and now I wasn’t getting the opportunity too showcase my talent. But it wasn’t long until the phrase forever be ready became a lifestyle for me.
I was angry at the world so my whole mindset was fuck everybody. My coaches could tell something was wrong with me by the way I practiced. I’d literally be searching the whole practice in my teammates eyes and see who feared me every time I touched the ball and I would attack them specifically. I would make them guard me and I’d constantly bust their ass for however long the drill was. It was a moment of releasing all of my inner frustrations and they were getting hell all practice. But constantly in the back of my mind I knew I had to be ready the next time an opportunity presented itself in game. So everyday I would wake up at 5am and shoot with my roommate for 2 hours before class. A lot of people don’t know this till this day but their would be times that I’d go from the gym straight to class and go back to the gym, go to scheduled practice and go to the gym again and shoot at night.
On the 28th of November I end up having a bad shooting night go 3-9 and only have 9 points. Frustrated with myself I knew I could have played better. I remember going to my apartment and talking with my teammate and telling him maybe I just lost it. My head was fucked up, all I wanted to do was show everybody that doubted me that I could do everything they said I couldn’t do. But right then I was proving them right. Never forget asking God why this had to happen to me after all the work I had put in. I cried and prayed the night out of frustration because I needed an answer. I couldn’t just keep putting this work in and not having anything change. But God knew patience is something that I always have struggled with. And when you stop worrying and just trust in his plan you’ll drastically see things change.
On the week of December 5th the day that changed my life I never seen it coming. My senior point guard got suspended for this game so it was my time to relish the opprotunity and step up. No longer was I playing out of frustration or anger but I was playing with pure love for the game. God had something in store for me but little did I know it would be on this day. Me and my teammate are in the gym shooting 3 hours before the game. We actually get to the arena an hour before the girls warm up so I decide to start my pre game routine in my street clothes which was shooting 3’s from deep spots on the floor. It was like I couldn’t miss. But I’ve hard warm ups like this before so I don’t think too much of it. I have Lloyd banks-Transition on repeat in my headphones. I proceed to the locker room and change and now I’m in a zone where my mind is simply laser focused. After my first shot I knew it was going to be a long game for whoever was in front of me. I took that same mentality of killing during practice and now it manifested to the game. Ended up having 35 points marking a career high for myself.
From having to at one point wanting to quit and then turning around having 35 points 2 weeks later is why I stand behind the phrase Forever be ready so heavily. No matter what you are going through in life you have to be ready for that opportunity and be ready to capitalize when your number is called. I could have folded and said you know what forget it it’s not worth it, but you have to see the vision to the end.
I hope this piece has inspired you all and you know realize the meaning behind why I made these T-shirts. If you would like to purchase one I will leave the link below.
Q's Body Blueprint 