I had a wonderful evening out to dinner with my college teammates and assistant coach.. We had a mini reunion.. I had too much fun reminiscing about our playing days. As we were reminiscing, guess who walks through the door. UCONN women’s basketball team.. The number 1 team in the country. They were in town to play Memphis. Our school we played for over 15 years ago. Everyone in the restaurant became mesmerized. They were humongous.  I remember when people would stare at us as we walk through airports and restaurants with our Memphis gear on. Those were the days..

Now, instead of 3 hour basketball practices and game days, I’m peeling myself out the bed to beat the crowd to the gym so I can get my treadmill. The one that’s right in front of the TV..The one I didn’t like at first because it doesn’t automatically increase in pace like the other one.

Shocked that I was the only person in the gym. It’s January 4. 7:45am Saturday morning. Last year, the first 2 weeks of January, it was waiting room only to get on the treadmill or any machine. Surely someone set a resolution to lose weight for the New Year.

I had decided a few weeks earlier to ramp up my work out. Before I would come to the gym 2 to 3 times a week to walk on the treadmill for 30-45 minutes. After re-reading the story on how Memphis’ basketball player Shaq Goodwin lost 30-40 pounds over the summer. I decided to walk for 1 hour 3-4 times a week while watching TV at the gym.

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I heard that it takes 21 days to create a habit. I’ve been creating a habit. I’m at the end of my third week of walking for 1 hour, at an increasing pace, 4 times a week. I’m working on creating another habit – doing something completely different or out of the ordinary at least once a month. I’m heading into my 4th month of attending a series of wine tasting classes at the Brooks Museum. I’ve learned, a little, about white wines, red wines, sparkling wines and I will finish up with desert wines. I’m working on reading 2 books a month also.  Right now I’m reading Influence The Psychology of Persuasion. It’s pretty neat to learn about how people (how I) react to different situations we are put in. As I write this, it seems like I’m doing a lot. In a way, I am and in a way, I’m not.

I have been involved in basketball in some fashion for over 12 years. I’ve been a head coach, an assistant coach, and a trainer. I’ve run basketball camps, basketball leagues, boys tournaments and girls tournaments. I’ve also helped start several basketball organizations. All of this while working a full time job.

During this time, I’ve lost loved ones. I’ve lost time. I’ve also lost me. I’ve been so focused on being  Patosha, the employee. Patosha, the basketball coach.  Patosha, the girls basketball trainer. Patosha, the publisher of MemphisGirlsBasketball.com. I forgot about Patosha, the person. I’ve decided that I need to take some time for me.

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