Routines and Basketball
My man and I split season tickets to games for both the men and women Gopher basketball teams at the U of M and, on Sunday, we enjoyed our last game of this season. Having grown up in a basketball-loving family and being a player myself back in the day, this tradition of cheering on college basketball with my husband has been so much fun.
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We tend to arrive at the games early, which gives us time to observe the warm-up routine on the court before tip off. It very meditative how the team would move from stretching, to shooting, to working with a trainer/strength coach, to high-fiving each other. Going through the motions of the routine that helps them get their head and body in the game.
These little pre-game rituals continue throughout the game: cleaning their sneaks before they enter into the game, prep for a free throw, coming out of a time-out.
My favorite is the free throw prep. Most players have some sort of thing they do each time they are at the free throw line before they take the shot: couple dribbles, set the feet, look at the hoop, deep breath, shoot.
It got me thinking about those little routines and rituals WE do during our day to day - those little actions that add a little something extra and something special. Those little things done with intention that are touchstones for the meaning in our lives. That help us get our heads and bodies in the game of our day.
Like, wearing your favorite pair of underwear when you have an important day, morning meditations, sipping a warm beverage of choice at sunrise, kissing your loves goodbye as you leave for the day, that specific song to belt to on your commute or your favorite jams for your workout, what you do when you first arrive home or when you have a big decision to make, lighting a candle before dinner, evening gratitudes and prayers, etc, etc, etc.
What are some of those routines that give you structure and solace? How can you add in more moments of intention to help you feel grounded and supported in your day? Where might you need a little extra anchor over the course of your day?
As I was washing my hands last night, I looked up at my reflection and looking in my own eyes I thought: what if while we wash our hands for twenty seconds, we also take that time to look into our own eyes and tell ourselves how bad ass, brilliant, resilient, and lovable we are? This would be a great opportunity to take a mundane moment (and maybe even fear based task, considering the virus news going around) and turn it into an intentional practice of infusing our day with more love.
We just had a full moon last night, so my full moon wish for you is for you to take sweet care of yourself and that you find those routines and rituals that support your body, mind, spirit, and heart.