{"id":7277,"date":"2017-01-23T07:43:38","date_gmt":"2017-01-23T13:43:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.handsfreemama.com\/?p=7277"},"modified":"2017-01-23T08:58:00","modified_gmt":"2017-01-23T14:58:00","slug":"what-you-dont-realize-youre-doing-may-change-the-way-you-see-yourself","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.handsfreemama.com\/2017\/01\/23\/what-you-dont-realize-youre-doing-may-change-the-way-you-see-yourself\/","title":{"rendered":"What You Don’t Realize You\u2019re Doing May Change the Way You See Yourself"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cWould you be interested in running a girls\u2019 basketball practice Monday night,<\/em>\u201d the text read.<\/p>\n

I cringed. Apparently, the earlier group email requesting parent coverage for our children\u2019s practice hadn\u2019t produced any takers. Now the coach was asking me personally. There were a lot of things I\u2019d be up for \u2013 but coaching basketball was not one of them. I can still vividly remember how disastrous 5th<\/sup> grade basketball tryouts were for me. Put me in position as coach, and there was no telling the damage I\u2019d do!<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s easy<\/em>,\u201d the coach added. \u201cI\u2019ll write out all the plays and drills<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n

He was making it very hard to say no\u2014and so was my conscience.<\/p>\n

\u201cOK,\u201d I typed back knowing that was the right answer. But I did not have an immediate sense of peace\u2014instead I felt anxious. I honestly did not know the first thing about basketball. But I knew I loved my daughter and her best friend \u2026 and they loved basketball practice. Therefore, I knew I needed to show up for them.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

On the night of practice, I gathered the third and fourth grade players in a tight circle and laid it all out there.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy name is Miss Rachel, and I\u2019m going to be your coach tonight,\u201d I said cheerfully to fifteen eager faces. \u201cMy sport in high school and college was tennis, and I don\u2019t know anything about basketball,\u201d I truthfully admitted. \u201cSo I am just here to encourage you to do your best and cheer you on.\u201d<\/p>\n

Without missing a beat, a little girl stepped forward and earnestly said, \u201cMiss Rachel, that\u2019s all we really need in a coach.\u201d<\/p>\n

Oh.<\/em><\/p>\n

I released a long-held breath. Just show up \u2013 that was all they needed from me tonight. <\/em>I assured myself.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

I proceeded to run the drills as planned by the coaches and gave the girls many opportunities to show me the ropes. Although they were focused and determined most of the night, I created a few laughs when I cheered, \u201cGet it in the hole!\u201d as one player went for a layup.<\/p>\n

At the end of the night, I received several hugs and the greatest compliment from the coach\u2019s daughter herself.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat was the best practice I ever had,\u201d she said with a huge smile.<\/p>\n

I sent up a silent prayer of gratitude that I\u2019d chosen to show up even though I felt ill-prepared and completely unqualified. And since that night, I show up every Saturday afternoon to be there for my team \u2013 not on the floor where the coaches sit, but as close as to the court as any spectator can get. I know all the players\u2019 names. I know their strengths and their weaknesses. I cheer when they run, block, and pass. I cringe when they fall. I hold my breath when they shoot. I am invested in these players \u2013 mind, heart, spirit, and soul.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

It\u2019s what coaches do.<\/p>\n

I guess maybe I am<\/em> a coach.<\/p>\n

Maybe we can be something we don\u2019t think we\u2019ll ever be just by doing it.<\/em><\/p>\n

Maybe this is how we become someone or something we never thought we\u2019d be.<\/em><\/p>\n

I\u2019ll always remember the day Banjo our cat was attacked when he\u2019d accidentally gotten out. For years, my daughters and I\u2019d joked that with his majestic \u201cmane\u201d and regal attitude he surely believed he was a lion.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

But on the day of the attack, Banjo had drug himself home, bloodied, battered, and injured, yet bound and determined to get to us. When I relayed his triumphant actions to my daughter Avery, she ran to his side and with tearful jubilation she exclaimed, \u201cBanjo! This proves you really are<\/em> a lion!\u201d<\/p>\n

After composing myself from Avery\u2019s stirring proclamation, I grabbed one of my tiny notebooks where I record things I never want to forget. I knew Avery\u2019s wise words would someday come in handy.<\/p>\n

Today is that day.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Banjo proved he was a lion at heart because of his actions.<\/p>\n

I\u2019d proved I was a basketball coach because of my actions.<\/p>\n

And something tells me there is actionable proof to be noticed in your life too.<\/p>\n

To the woman on the treadmill whose inner critic sneers, \u201cEveryone is looking at you<\/em>,\u201d or \u201cYou have no place here,<\/em>\u201d \u2026
\nDon't listen to that voice. Look at the proof.
\nYou are a runner because you run. <\/strong><\/p>\n

To the man yearning to know his written words matter\u2014perhaps a published article, a literary award, or a little traffic to his blog.
\nDon\u2019t let those conquests\u00a0define you. Look at the proof.
\nYou are a writer because you write. <\/strong><\/p>\n

To the individual with a debilitating condition wondering if you\u2019ll ever overcome the pain and live a normal life.
\nDon\u2019t underestimate the life you are managing to live right now<\/em>. Look at the proof.
\nYou are a survivor because you survive. <\/strong><\/p>\n

To the individual with a classroom of struggling students wondering if you're making a difference when test scores don\u2019t show it.
\nDon\u2019t forget to notice the progress that can\u2019t be measured. Look at the proof.
\nYou are a teacher because you teach. <\/strong><\/p>\n

To the individual speaking up for what\u2019s right \u2026<\/p>\n

To the individual doing\u00a0everything he can to help his struggling child \u00a0\u2026<\/p>\n

To the individual working two jobs to reach her dream \u2026<\/p>\n

To the individual giving time, effort, and expertise to lift those in despair \u2026<\/p>\n

To the individual showing up despite feeling unqualified simply because someone is counting on you \u2026<\/p>\n

You are a light because you shine.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

My friends, I have one last thing I must tell you. My dear friend and brilliant writer, Lisa McCrohan<\/a>, has repeatedly said something to me since we met in the blogging world as we were both were starting our respective publishing journeys. On days I\u2019d feel defeated wondering if my words had any significance, a message from Lisa would divinely pop into my inbox.<\/p>\n

\u201cLook at you, Rachel! You\u2019re doing it! You\u2019re doing it!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

That is what she would say. With tearful jubilation I'd think to myself: Yes, she\u2019s right. I see the proof!<\/em> And then I\u2019d go right back to work.<\/p>\n

Today I encourage you look for the actionable proof in your life.<\/p>\n

What you never thought you\u2019d be, may BE exactly who you are \u2026 simply because you\u2019re doing it.<\/strong><\/p>\n

You are an artist.
\nYou are a musician.
\nYou are a peacekeeper.
\nYou are a change-maker.
\nYou are good person.
\nYou are a healer.
\nYou are a survivor.
\nYou are a light in someone\u2019s darkness.<\/p>\n

You\u2019re doing it. You're doing it.<\/em><\/p>\n

And I\u2019m cheering you on from as close as any spectator can get.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

***************************************<\/p>\n

Dear friends of the Hands Free Revolution<\/a>: if you are not on Facebook<\/a> or Instagram<\/a>, you might have missed the release of my first ONLY LOVE TODAY<\/a> book trailer,\u00a0GET OFF THE SCALE<\/a>, produced by Emmy Award Winning SALT Project<\/a>. See what half a million people have viewed over the past few days and be encouraged. Click here <\/a>to watch.\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Exciting news! If you have pre-ordered ONLY LOVE TODAY<\/a> or do so in the coming weeks, you have several bonus gifts waiting for you. My talented book cover designer, Juicebox Designs<\/a>, has turned my favorite quotes from my new book<\/a> into gorgeous visual reminders for you to use in your daily life. Pre-order gifts include: 4 adult coloring pages, 4 reminder signs, 4 bookmarks, and an ONLY LOVE TODAY phone lock screen. Instructions for obtaining those gifts with your receipt can be found here<\/a>! Pre-order your copy of ONLY LOVE TODAY at Amazon<\/a>, Barnes & Noble<\/a>, or ChristianBook.com.<\/a>\u00a0Thank you so much for\u00a0showing my\u00a0publisher that my work\u00a0is valued & should continue through\u00a0the purchase of my books<\/a>. Your support blesses my family & me immensely.\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u201cWould you be interested in running a girls\u2019 basketball practice Monday night,\u201d the text read. I cringed. Apparently, the earlier group email requesting parent coverage for our children\u2019s practice hadn\u2019t produced any takers. Now the coach was asking me personally. There were a lot of things I\u2019d be up for \u2013 but coaching basketball was […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":7283,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1757,1756,18],"tags":[729,1758],"gutentor_comment":8,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.handsfreemama.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/DSC_0498-e1485174125510.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p1fUJF-1Tn","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.handsfreemama.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7277"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.handsfreemama.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.handsfreemama.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.handsfreemama.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.handsfreemama.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7277"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.handsfreemama.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7277\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.handsfreemama.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7283"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.handsfreemama.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7277"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.handsfreemama.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7277"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.handsfreemama.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7277"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}