2018 has been a year of sweat, fun, victories on and off the court, heartbreak and renewal. I'm always amazed by the resilience and joy of our H1 Thunder keiki and parents. For many years, going back to the 1980s when I began coaching, I've always wondered what kids are capable of when they work together and get better each day.
Well, I've found that behind a young player who succeeds in basketball or any other craft, is an amazing parent or parents who provide all the support imaginable. The ones who stick it out through good and tough times reap the greatest rewards. So, for every young player who leaves or quits, we have other players who are intertwined with their teammates. Their friends. There are parents who understand the process of daily repetition. Of allowing their children to be coached. To be corrected on fundamentals. To be disciplined for wayward attitude or actions. To withstand all the ups and downs and simply keep marching forward together as a basketball ohana.
That's what is most exciting and satisfying for me. Not wins and losses, and not perfect scenarios. It's the will and the power within to accept the journey, to teach our keiki what unity is, what hard work is, what fun is as a team. What loyalty and brother-sisterhood truly are about. There are a few people who tried to break this team apart, who had their own personal agendas all along, and ultimately put their own selves ahead of our ohana. Tried to tear us apart and didn't care one bit about tearing us apart. About breaking up friendships among our keiki for selfish reasons, lying to me, lying to others. Continuing to try and poach keiki from our ohana to join their new team. Even now.
Eventually the truth prevails. I have faith in doing the right thing. I forgive.
The pilikia caused by those who hurt our keiki -- that's God's kuleana, not mine. We keep moving forward in joy, in sweat, in appreciation of the process. Only God is perfect, and the road is bumpy. So we keep working and enjoying each other. That's all we can do. The joy of the Lord is our strength. (Neh. 8:10) Always will be. And as we welcome back old friends, new players and new families, the joy grows!
Thank you, Thunder parents and friends. Mahalo, Thunder ballers. You make every practice and game worth all the effort. God is always good. I'm looking forward to a blessed 2019
:)
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