Have fun By Alan Brizee © 2014, rev. 2020
When you wake up in the morning and are getting dressed, put on your shirt,
You’re going bowling today to beat up on the other team and make them hurt,
get out of the house to have fun!
No matter what the score is or who’s ahead in the match, give it your all when you’re out there,
Whether it’s your weekly league, tournaments or even nationals, it’s definitely not about where,
it’s when are you going to start to have fun!
In close matches and to help motivate and inspire your team, don’t forget to clap,
Pulling together in the same direction is one key to winning, so wear the same cap,
and bond to have fun.
Just remember that during competition at any time or any place, you NEVER give up,
If you’re feeling just a little tired from lack of sleep, then put some coffee in your cup,
and show them how to have fun.
Remember that every week, trying to make the league Roll-Offs will be like a roll of the dice,
Just because you were lucky to win once, means you still put in the work so it can happen twice,
so that it will definitely be fun.
You must be willing to give it 100% to help your team win is really all you can do, right?
Your team MUST remain positive no matter what situation you face, all through the night,
helps your team have fun.
Teams that set goals by writing them down and obtain them every season get psyched,
Encouraging each other even after losing a game or if slightly behind is what I liked,
so you can continue to have fun.
Watching good teams that are successful will give you the reason to go out there and win,
They’re willing to help each other shoot some great scores, so when it’s over, they can grin,
because they’re having fun.
Whatever happened in the past can’t be changed, as today is a new day for your aim,
It should be about your attitude, always positive enjoying the competition, for your daily claim,
because competing is fun.
How else did all those great bowlers with all their tournament titles get in the Hall of Fame?
Some were on great teams and willing to step up levels bragging about all the titles they won,
because winning is fun.
It’s never about what somebody said or what one person did, as long as they got the job done,
It’s that they worked each and every day, week after week, month after month,
AND THAT THEY DID IT WHILE HAVING FUN.
If you haven’t noticed, the individuals and teams that seem to be having the most fun, are the ones who are winning and make the playoffs.
Why are they winning?
1. Having fun actually reduces self-induced pressure.
2. When you’re winning and have come back to win some games, almost every game is within reach
of winning. Everyone gets excited when they pull victory from a possible defeat.
3. The motivation and inspiration to every team member will get even the lowest averages lined in to
shot some great scores.
4. Because of winning on a more consistent basis, they’re more relaxed and able to repeat great shots. 5. Their goal of making the Roll-Offs are just a few wins away and maybe one team stands in their way.
They made the Roll-Offs before so they’re just duplicating what they know is possible.
6. They act like a team as they know it’s the whole team that either wins or loses. Someone usually
steps up when needed for the win.
7. They talk to each other on what the lanes are doing and how much they’re breaking down so
everyone is ready what adjustments may be needed and when.
8. They enjoy the competition so much that actual focus better when the game is close.
9. Teams that don’t feel the pressure as much are more relaxed and a more relaxed shot usually
creates better pin action and the so called good break.
And my final answer is,
10. They are having so much fun that they worry less about scores and just let it happen, one shot at a time. This is what several call reality. But this reality leads to being successful. You’re not stressing out about having to win. You’re out there just trying to help and motivate your team to victory because one person can’t do it all.
One setback is a teammate getting frustrated for leaving a 10 pin. Now they miss the spare and the bowling gods are against them. Now not only are they not having fun, they stop encouraging the team and the momentum shifts to the other team. Mistakes will happen. Learn from all mistakes, so they won’t be repeated. If you’re not trying to solve the problem, then it’s you who is the problem. That’s what fun is about. Helping out the team to achieve its goals. Making a bold move to help your team win is fun. Grinding it out in a close match to pull it out is fun. Enjoying the competition is supposed to be fun. LIVE FOR THE MOMENT, focus on just what can be controlled, your next shot and above all, have fun.
I said it once and have repeated it a hundred times, if you’re not having fun, it may be time to quit.
What are the Risks? By Alan Brizee © 2014, rev. 2020
To laugh is to risk appearing the fool.
To weep is to risk appearing sentimental.
To reach out for another is to risk involvement.
To expose feelings is to risk exposing your true self.
To place your ideas, your dreams, before a crowd is to risk their loss.
To love is to risk not being loved in return.
To live is to risk dying.
To hope is to risk despair.
To try is to risk failure.
But risks must be taken, because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing.
The person who risks nothing, does nothing, has nothing, and is nothing.
They may avoid suffering and sorrow, but they can't learn, feel, change, grow, love & live.
Chained by their attitudes, they are a slave, they have forfeited their freedom.
Only a person who risks is free.
-Author unknown.
After reading this, should we think about taking a risk? This shows that every day, we’re taking risks. All your decisions therefore put you or others at risk. But most decisions are based on facts and normally in the best interest of those involved, which can be effected by the decision. Today, you risk your life just walking on the sidewalk. Do you even think about any risks when you wake up or leave the house? There are probably double the risks today than even 20 years ago. Today, the coronavirus has closed bowling centers and we stay home hoping we don’t get it from that quick trip to the market, just to get food. How many more new risks will we see in the future? You actually risking your life by getting up in the morning. But, if you stay in bed, you risk your health by not doing some exercise. So when you get up, it’s about accepting certain risks.
Even reading, actually comes with risk. It depends on the where, who and why. Where you read it can determine how truthful and factual the story is. Much of what is on the internet is personal opinion and is meant to invoke your thoughts to what they’re writing about. Very little truth and facts. Some stories can actual cause panic for the reader. It’s the same as when the paper first went to press, don’t believe everything you read. You’re even at risk reading this. It can be mind altering or what some would say, brain washing. Yes, sports is a sort of brain washing activity. If you’re not mentally prepared for competition, how can you expect to see consistent positive results? Motivation and inspiration is a form of brain washing. It gets you thinking, what if? It is the what if, that can put you at risk. Trying to do something that no one has done before you, could put your career, because of injury or even your life, at stake. Is it then, still worth the risk? Who wrote it and what they wrote about, can actually change people’s life. Some people are info crazy and will read almost everything on subjects that they’re interested in. But also beware of where the info came from. Even some emails can’t be taken too seriously. With the scams that happen daily, you must remain on the side of caution for whatever you read. Just because an author’s name is attached, doesn’t mean they actually wrote it. Why they wrote it can be the question of the year. Sometimes it’s to change your way of thinking or to get you on their side of the fence. And if you read anything that I wrote, it is to change your thinking and hopefully prepare you for bigger and better experiences. But I don’t expect everyone to believe that what I have wrote, will help them. I also don’t expect everyone to apply everything I wrote about to their game. Everyone is different. Skill levels, experiences, weekly routines, practice sessions, coaches and goals. What I have wrote about, should help most athletes learn at least something that should help their game. I have tried to include actually experiences, so athletes can more insight as to why it helped my game, and why it just might help their game as well. With everything I have wrote, I feel even pros could learn at least one or two things to incorporate into their game.
Sports is all about risks and showing others you have the ability to compete. Competition and even during practice, athletes risk injuries and even their life. If you enjoy the completion, you’ll won’t think about the risks. But whatever the risk, you should live life like there are no risks. Worrying about any risk, isn’t going to make you a better athlete. It can cloud your judgement and keep you from success. You need to focus on doing the best you can and not on what may happen. This article is to wake you up a little and expose the dark side of sports in a different way. Sports are great when everything is moving forward and you and your team is winning. But the wheels, unfortunately can fall off tonight. It happens all the time in sports. I put that saying on the league’s website for a reason. You’ll never even know, if the season won’t be cancelled because of health concerns, for everyone on the planet. All I’m saying is, go out there and have fun doing the best you can. That’s all I can ask from my teammates. As far as the risks in my sports, I truly enjoy the competition and I’m willing to take the risk.
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