Lessons from LeBron

I used to not know anything about basketball. There's a lot I admit I still don't.

This isn’t a blog post about improving your basketball game, but rather several life lessons I learned by watching LeBron play over the past six seasons and what he said in post game conferences. 

(Six seasons; you may be wondering, "isn't that how long you've been with your husband?" Yes it is and believe me there's a connection.)

There are some people who will never get past the "Take my talents to South Beach" press conference or that LeBron doesn't measure up as a "role model" in their eyes. 

He was a kid born to a single mother in Ohio, overcoming poverty, homelessness, and statistics, and giving back to the kids in his community who find themselves in the same boat he was. (Including paying for college for over 1,000 students.)  

There's much LeBron hasn't gotten credit for and there's much we can take away from his success. 

Lesson #1: "We don’t pay attention to extra curriculars"

Before Draymond Green got himself suspended in game five of the 2016 Finals, there was another distraction in the playoffs two years ago.

Remember Lance Stephenson? The Pacers' player with interesting antics including blowing in LeBron's ear to try and get in his head.

We all have Lance Stephenson’s in our lives. Some may call them ‘thorns in the flesh.’ Wherever you go, they are there.

I believe that these people are in our lives to teach us patience. To teach us strength. And some of them are to simply teach us to laugh at the ridiculous.

Lesson #2: “These are things we can’t control…”

LeBron said those words after a defeat in game four to the Pacers in 2014. The Heat played at a high level, but their opponents played better during that game.

I don’t know about you, but I like control. I like making lists and crossing them off. I like on-time departures, people calling when they say they are, etc. etc.

We cannot control the actions of other people. I repeat because I need this reminder. We cannot control the actions of other people.

Worry about yourself and everything else?  Let it go. Let it all go. 

Lesson #3: "That's none of my business!"

People talk crap about LeBron all the time and yet he doesn't let the noise get in. As a girl growing up in the south I'm well aware of gossiping under the guise of "prayer requests." I've done it and I'm sure others have to.

Gossip or "bless their hearts...." isn't going anywhere. We can't change what people say about us so we must change ourselves to not let other people's opinions of us change who we are.

After all, their opinions? Are none of our business.

Lesson #4: "I don't know why the man above gives me the hardest road, but the man above don't put you in situations that you can't handle. I just kept that positive attitude. Instead of saying why me?, I said this is what He wants me to do." 

In the midst of challenging circumstances it's easy to lose sight of the end goal. It's easy to become bitter and negative. 

I'm sure Cleveland fans wanted a championship the first year LeBron came back but that wasn't the plan and that isn't what happened. 

But the waiting? It certainly made the championship won on Sunday night that much sweeter. 

Good things come to those who wait.