Category: Random Thoughts

Motivation, Random Thoughts, Sports

Embracing History: Empowering Future

bhillay

When I was a kid, my dad would take me to the public library and show me old newspaper articles from when he played basketball in high school and junior college.

He was a talented player, and those articles served as proof of his skills. While some may view this as dwelling in the past or being a “fallen star,” I am grateful for that experience as it was crucial for my own success in sports.

Knowing our history is key to being prepared for the future, having pride, and understanding our roots. Learning about my dad’s athletic achievements instilled confidence in me and showed me what was possible. It made me appreciate the athletic genetics I inherited and the rewards of hard work.

Now, I do the same with my teenage nephew, sharing my own sports accomplishments and stories about his parents’ athletic abilities. I believe this knowledge will give him a sense of pride and confidence.

It is important to learn our history, not just within our family but within our entire race, and to reflect on our own achievements in life. Recognizing the positive things said about us, the goals we have accomplished, big or small, serves as a reminder of our potential.

Learning our history is invaluable, and no one should take that away from us. The more we learn, the better we will be in the future.

Motivation, Random Thoughts

Timeless Success: Age and Achievement

bhillay

Age and time don’t matter as much as we often think when it comes to success and achieving things. Regardless of the situation, when we compare ourselves to others or compete against them, we often think, “Well, they are older than me, so they should have more experience, a higher salary, or better skills, etc.”

I used to think that way too. These thoughts started to fade away when I entered college for football. I had teammates and opponents who were much older than me. Some of them were so much older that we weren’t even in high school during the same years.

In the NFL, I played with guys who were decades older than me. Age didn’t matter. They didn’t treat me differently because I was younger, and I didn’t treat them differently because they were older. It simply didn’t matter. What mattered most was the present moment.

You might see someone making a lot of money at work and think, “They have x number of years of experience, and they are older than me.” However, that truly doesn’t matter. Our lives don’t follow the same timeline. We achieve things at various ages. We learn things at different stages of life.

Martin Luther King Jr. died at 39 years old. Imagine if he had thought he needed to be older or have more years of experience before he could begin to serve his life’s purpose and make a change. Some kids graduate from high school at the age of 13 or 14. They don’t need to wait until they are 18 like everyone else.

Whatever it is you want to do in life, know that the time is now. Patience is important, but also remember what Malcolm X once said, “No man is given but so much time to accomplish whatever is his life’s work.” So, anything you do today, consider it urgent.

Motivation, Random Thoughts

Embracing Inevitable Change

bhillay

Change is inevitable.

Reflect on all the years of your life, and you will see that.

We can either deliberately take the actions to create the change that we want or simply sit there and let change happen, then try to react afterward.

Reflect on all the years of your life, and you will see that.

Random Thoughts, Uncategorized

10,000-Hour Rule: Reimagined Mastery

bhillay

The 10,000-hour rule suggests that it takes approximately 10,000 hours of deliberate practice to achieve a high level of mastery in a specific field or skill.

However, I believe this notion is no longer entirely accurate due to the availability of resources like YouTube tutorials, AI-powered tools, and other modern learning aids, which allow individuals to expedite their learning and skill development, potentially requiring fewer than 10,000 hours to attain a considerable level of proficiency in certain areas.

There was a time when it was believed that running a mile in under 5 minutes was physically impossible for humans; however, nowadays, there are high schoolers who can accomplish this feat.

Motivation, Random Thoughts

Unlocking Future Success: Mindset

bhillay

A lot of things we want in life require delayed gratification, such as the dream job, body, spouse, mentality, or overall life satisfaction. Whatever it may be, it necessitates present effort and work for future rewards.

However, this doesn’t mean you cannot find happiness in the present moment. Once your mind is set on a goal and you are committed to following the necessary steps, find joy in it. Express gratitude in advance.

Mahatma Gandhi once said, “You can chain me, torture me, even destroy this body, but you will never imprison my mind.” Even when physically confined, one’s thoughts, dreams, and imagination remain free and unaffected.

Though you may not be where you desire to be currently, you can still cultivate the habits, mindset, and vision of your future self.

Today can mark the beginning of whatever achievement you aspire to in life. Even at the start of a journey, maintaining a sense of gratitude, confidence, and excitement for future accomplishments can provide motivation and fulfillment. Give it a try and experience it firsthand.

Motivation, Random Thoughts, Sports

Future-Focused Wellness

bhillay

Growing up, I would often see adults with bad backs, sore knees, or other worn-down body parts. Most of the time, they would explain how they had played sports or engaged in physical activities when they were younger, and now their bodies were feeling the effects years later.

I know I’m not immune to this situation. There have already been moments when I wake up in the morning with sore joints or other body parts, seemingly for no reason. I understand that it’s due to years of playing sports and my failure to take preventative measures to care for my body.

This principle applies not just physically, but in life in general. Many of our current actions or past behaviors will impact us in the future. It’s important not to be naive and assume that it can’t happen to us or that we’re exceptions to the rule.

Fortunately, there are preventative measures we can take now to avoid problems later on. Therefore, whatever we do at present, whether it’s physical, mental, or spiritual, we should consider whether the future version of ourselves will be satisfied with our current choices.

Some things may feel pleasurable in the moment but won’t age well over time, while others may not feel good initially but will be highly beneficial in the future. I’m fine with how my body feels right now based on my past actions, but I also acknowledge that I must accept the consequences of those actions and take steps to improve my future well-being.

It’s crucial to ensure that the future version of yourself will be content with the choices you’re making right now.

Motivation, Random Thoughts

Balancing Healthy Ego

bhillay

Having a healthy ego can help you feel confident and believe in yourself, which is important for achieving goals and facing challenges.

However, it is equally important to know when to set it aside. There are situations in life where success requires us to ask for help or do tasks we may feel are beneath us. We need to put our ego aside when it hinders listening to others, learning from mistakes, or collaborating effectively with a team.

When things don’t go as expected, it’s essential to check our ego and ensure it’s not part of the problem.

Motivation, Random Thoughts, Sports

Unleashing Success Together

bhillay

You should always feel encouraged when other people experience success, not discouraged. Just because someone else succeeds doesn’t mean you can’t as well.

When I played football, if I wasn’t in the game and another running back was performing well, I never got upset, jealous, or discouraged about not playing. I would be happy for their success. I’d get encouraged because I knew that if they were able to succeed on the field, I could achieve the same, if not more.

When you see someone doing something in life that you’d like to achieve, whether they’re a peer or a competitor, just know that you can attain the same level of success. Let their accomplishments serve as an example of what’s possible.

We can all succeed in life. Success is not a limited resource. Be encouraged when others find their success, and know that yours will come too.

Motivation, Random Thoughts, Uncategorized

Actions Speak Gratitude

bhillay

Sometimes, as a spouse, partner, teammate, or collaborator, the best way to show gratitude for someone’s efforts is to reciprocate with the same energy.

As a new parent, you don’t get as much rest as you once did. You learn on the go and have to divide your energy between your new life and maintaining the life you had before. There are times when the baby is fussy, and my wife is the one who gets up to soothe and put the baby back to sleep. It’s the small things like this that truly matter, especially when I’d rather be sleeping at 3 am.

To show my gratitude as a husband, father, and teammate, I can tell my wife thank you, but I can also be more considerate of her need for rest and offer my help. I can step up and do anything and everything that could make her life a little bit easier.

My mom paid for me to attend a private school from 7th grade to 12th grade. She had to work two jobs, often back to back, to help pay for my tuition. In gratitude, I worked hard and made sure she wouldn’t have to pay a dollar for my college tuition. I earned a full-ride scholarship and even sent money back home using my scholarship checks and financial aid refund.

I know my mom didn’t pay for my education just for a “thank you.” Similarly, my wife doesn’t go above and beyond for our baby expecting only gratitude. It’s about doing what you believe is right and putting everyone in the best position to succeed. It’s also about doing your part, fulfilling your end of the bargain, and expressing gratitude through actions.

Sometimes, despite receiving a “thank you,” it’s easy to feel underappreciated. But as they say, actions speak louder than words.

Ultimately, we are all God’s children, and He does the most for us at all times. He is our rock, our fortress, and our deliverer. We can thank Him for everything He does in our lives by the way we live our lives.

Motivation, Random Thoughts, Sports

Coach, Respect, Growth

bhillay

There are times as a football player when it feels like your coach is overcoaching you or even miscoaching you. They might try to blame you or correct something that they think you’ve done wrong, when in reality, you weren’t in the wrong.

In those situations, instead of having a rebuttal or trying to tell your coach that perhaps they might be wrong in this situation, the best thing you can do is listen, then say, “Yes, coach,” and leave it at that.

Whether it’s a sport or just life in general, sometimes your coach, parents, supervisor, or anyone in authority over you, their guidance might be incorrect or unnecessary, but it’s important to maintain your respect for the person as well as avoid any conflict that will be counterproductive.

It’s similar to the quote “Never outshine your master.” You should not try to show off or be better than the person who is teaching or guiding you. It’s important to respect their knowledge and authority while learning from them.

It’s a humbling thing to do at times, especially when you know you’re right, but even that humbling experience will make you a better athlete or person. You’ll know how to interact with authority better and how to continue to improve, even if coached the wrong way.