Making the best of it

          So what's been going on lately? I apologize for having so much time in between my posts but you have to believe me when I say I've been busy! There has been much going on and hopefully I can fill you in on some of the things.

          First off, I've somehow injured myself....again. I really don't know what happened but after one of my basketball games my knee was killing me! I never really found out what was wrong with it but I do know that my left knee, the one that was operated on two years ago, is much weaker than my right knee and I have to strengthen it. I'm hoping that I can get that taken care of and be back to normal soon. It really sucks being injured but if there is one benefit of being injured it's that the injury helps you to put everything into perspective in life and in sports. After playing for a while you begin to take health for granted and forget how blessed you are to be able to run, jump, and just be generally healthy. I wish I could go my whole life injury free but I think every now and then you need that reminder to appreciate what you have!

          Lately I've been a little down I guess maybe because we are really close to not making the playoffs and as a team we just have not been playing well. We were eliminated from the cup about two weeks ago and that really upset me. A week after that we lost to the same team and that was the game I was injured in and I managed to put up my career low, 1 point! I've never in my life scored that little but I was literally useless in that game. My knee was giving a lot of pain and I just wasn't able to operate properly. Needless to say after that game I was pretty down. But recently I've been taking a different look on things and it has made things much better. I naturally am a person who doesn't want help and thinks that I can control everything and don't need anyone. I am learning more and more to lean on my faith and to just trust God in everything that I do. I honestly believe that God has a plan for my life and whatever that is I just have to be open to receiving his guidance. Proverbs 3:5 says, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. Acknowledge him in all your ways and he shall direct your paths." Sometimes I don't understand why certain things happen in my life but I trust that God is shaping me and making me a stronger person. It's important for me to realize that because if I'm doing my best at everything I do, what else is there to do?

           Just recently my coach was fired and it has shaken up a lot of things in my club. Naturally when something like that happens I begin to think, "Is my job in jeopardy?" I've been reassured by officials in the club that they are not looking to replace me and that everything is okay but in this business I think you have to always keep your ears and eyes open because there are some shady people everywhere. In the end people tend to look out for themselves and in this situation I think I have to do the same. My injuries don't help the situation at all. All these thoughts begin to go through my head and I begin to think that I'm not ready to leave yet! I have many friends that I don't want to leave right now and I'm enjoying myself over here. 

         Im excited about a trip that I will be taking shortly with my friend Carole Retter. I am going to London, and have been wanting to get over there since I first got over here to Lux but just have not had the chance.  I will be there for roughly about 3 days which in my opinion is enough time to see what I need. I don't get many days where I can go traveling so the days that I do get I try and take advantage of. Like many other parts of Europe, London has so much history and is been ranked by many as one of the best cities in the world. Hopefully I can take plenty of pictures and be able to share those with you guys! Well thats all for now...check back soon!

Happy New Year!!

                              

          Sorry guys I know I've been away for quite sometime now but things were really busy around Christmas time and New Years. I hope your Christmas and New Years was as good as mine and that you are motivated and anticipating what the new year will bring. This time of year can really be good if you take advantage of it. It's a chance to start over, to revisit broken commitments, or to set new goals in which to achieve. Not that these things can't be done in the middle of the year or any other time but the new year gives you the feeling that your slate has been wiped clean and that you have a chance to start from the beginning. I challenge you, as well as myself, to set goals and to map out ways in which you will achieve those goals. Make this year better than the last and continually challenge yourself. Now I know some of you are wondering, "Marcus, What are your New Years Resolutions?" Well let me first say geez you guys are nosy but since you asked I guess I'll throw some things out there! I'm joking but some things I think I need to work on is actually following through on what I plan on doing. I'm great at imagining things in my mind that I will do and it all looks so easy in my head. The fact of the matter is they are all very attainable, it's just that I don't give myself the best chance at achieving those things because I keep everything in my head and don't write things down or follow a schedule. My most valuable tool this coming year will be a schedule that I must write out and follow in order to give myself the best chance for success! There you have it!

            My time back home was really good although it was cut considerably shorter than originally planned. My flight out on the 22nd of December was cancelled and luckily I was able to find a flight out the next day and get home a day late. Not only that but I was supposed to get back to Lux on the 6th but my club rescheduled my flight for me to return on the 2nd of January which I guess I can understand but It was unexpected. I was able to enjoy some good old southern weather and see something that I don't get to see much in Lux and that is SUNSHINE! My friend Elizabeth would dispute me on that one but lucky for me its my blog and she can't say anything now! I was able to see old friends and also meet new ones. I realized fairly recently, that the friends I most enjoy hanging out with are the ones where you can be yourself and where people aren't trying to put on a show to impress others. I find it not only hard to hang out with those type of people but physically taxing as well. I enjoy being able to see the deeper side of people and not just the outer shell that everyone sees. In some groups you just can't get past that. I got to play some golf while I was home which I'm really loving these days. Thats one game I enjoy playing even though I suck. I was able to beat my brother who plays fairly often so I would call that trip to the Golf course a success. I visited my University and checked out the team who is struggling a bit right now. It was good to be back on campus.

          

 Before I forget I have to mention my time In Switzerland before Christmas break. I was able to go skiing for the first time and I must admit it was pretty miserable at first. I went with 3 other friends who all knew how to ski pretty well. The Swiss Alps are a sight to see and just being there was a surreal experience. Once we got on the slopes and I begin to try and ski I began to wonder what in the world I was doing out there. I can honestly say I haven't been that afraid in a long time. All I could think about was going down one of those hills, losing control and sliding off the side of the mountain. I'm not sure the Swiss Alps is the best place to ski for the first time. My friends were patient with me although I know they wanted to ski without having to watch after me the whole time so I let them have a few runs without me. The highlight of the first day was me taking 40 minutes to put on my ski that had fallen off. I could not get that thing on! The hill was so steep and its hard to put on when you are on a slope and not flat ground. I was literally sweating like I had just played a basketball game because I was having to balance on one leg which takes a lot of effort. I had to strip down because I was so hot! I had to have fallen at least 100 times the first day. I was able to give my friends some good laughs though. After a while I was able to catch on and I was skiing pretty good. The second day I had a very good time because I did not fall many times at all and was able to keep up with everyone. In the end I was happy I went and would love to go again someday If I get the opportunity. Well I'm out.........I'm still off schedule and have been up since 530am so I'm going to get some other things taken care of. Later!