New Year, New Me, New You

Posted on January 13, 2015 by Patosha Jeffery

2015 is here! But first let me talk about 2014.

Twenty fourteen was a year of transformation for me. In 2013, I was about to lose my mind. Well, I had actually lost myself. I was mentally and emotionally exhausted, out of shape, unfocused and stretched way too thin. I had too much going on and wasn’t getting anywhere.

I started my transformation in November 2013. I had to make some changes in my life. So I decided I had to:

Get My Mind Right

I was beyond unhappy and feeling stuck with where I was in my life and career. I had lost my optimism, silliness, and goofiness. I had lost my sense of direction and desire for achievement and success. Every morning on my way to work, I started listening to 5 to 10 minutes of Napoleon Hill’s The Science of Personal Achievement: The 17 Universal Principles of Success. The tips and individual success stories on the CD helped remind me of philosophies I believed in and the person I used to be — Happy, Energetic, Goal Driven, A Success.

Lesson: Your Thoughts determine Your Action. Your Action turns into Habits. Your Habits lead you to Success or Failure.

Get My Circle Right

I’ve always been a loner type. I rarely talk on the phone and rarely hang out. One person was able to knock down all my barriers and we became extremely close. I’ve known this person for over 10 years. However, the friendship had become unhealthy. I had to let the friendship go. It wasn’t easy, but I did it.

Lesson: The people you allow into your life will either expand you or deflate you. They will either add to your growth or assist in your deterioration. They will uplift you or knock you down. So choose your friends and associates wisely.

Get My Body Back

Where did my toned, athletic body go??? Where? I just let my body go. I wasn’t working out and I was eating everything in sight. So, I started back working out. It was slow. I started with 30 minute walks on the treadmill twice a week. It grew to walking 1 hour up to 4 times a week. Then I started attending a kick boxing class 2-3 times a week. By late Spring, I was walking/running on a track. Then back to kickboxing. Late fall, I moved to my favorite sport, BASKETBALL of course, by joining a women’s basketball league.

Lesson: Having a lifestyle that includes physical activities gets you out the house, involved, relieves stress, around new people and eventually leads to losing weight.

Get My Growth On

There was a time in my life when I was devouring books left and right. I could read a Rich Dad, Poor Dad book in less than 3 days. I was hooked to biographies, personal finance and self help books. In 2014, I read several books like I Was Blind, But Now I See, Never Eat Alone, My Story, and My Song – Mother-Daughter Reflections on Life and Faith. I attended several computer training classes on site and over the internet.

Lesson: Once you graduate from high school or college, don’t stop growing. Continue to learn, grow, feed your mind, and expand your imagination by reading and listening to books/ebooks, podcasts, watching youtube or training videos and attending workshops or conferences.

Get My Entertainment On

I decided to get out the house more. I am such a home body. I had got so caught up with leaving work and running to basketball games, practice, trainings and tournaments. I forgot to have a life and interests outside of basketball. I took wine tasting classes, a cooking class, attended outings with former high school and college teammates and classmates, hosted a girls night out, attended art gallery functions, attended the Memphis in May activities and more

Lesson: Life is short — SO LIVE!

I feel so much better than I was feeling at the end of 2013. I’m back to smiling a lot more. I’m back to laughing and being goofy a lot more. I’ve lost a few pounds. I’ve meet different kinds of people. I plan to continue my transformation through 2015.

A new year is about new beginnings. It does not have to begin in January. Like I said, I started my transformation in November. Changes that you make don’t have to be immediate or big either. It’s all up to you.

This video is a great motivator to get you started or back on track with your transformation.

Habits vs Resolutions

Posted on January 10, 2014 by Patosha Jeffery

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.

Continue reading →

Refocus in 2014

Posted on January 2, 2014 by Patosha Jeffery

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.