We started basketball camps again on Monday and I was assigned two groups of very nice young ladies to coach. As we work on the progression of shooting form, we include the mirror drill. In past years, I've asked my female campers why girls carry mirrors. They giggled a little but we all know why; they have to check themselves. We all need a mirror of some sort to reflect on our lives. This is from July 9, 2006.
When I came to St. Louis to visit my parents. it meant an interruption in my lifting schedule. I lift three times per week but my folks have no fitness equipment. I did the next best thing- I brought my own mini-gym. Actually, I packed only two pieces of workout gear: push up stands and a fifty pound weight plate. Many people mistakenly believe you have to belong to a gym or have the latest apparatus to get a good workout but that's not the case. There are many ways to stay fit without requiring much space or money. In roughly thirty minutes, I can wear myself out with just the plate and the stands. But as I prepared my first session here in St. Louis, I realized there was something missing that was a necessity. The bedroom/fitness center where I was sleeping each night had no mirror. I rummaged in Dad's garage and found what I was looking for, a mirror that used to sit atop a dresser. Brushing off cobwebs and tilting it against the bedroom wall at an angle, I was in business.
You might ask why a mirror is so important. I can't tell you from a technical point of view but every weight room I have ever been in is covered in reflective glass. I love having a mirror in front of me as I lift. There is instant feedback and correction. You can check your form, perhaps the most important aspect of lifting, with each repetition. The mirror doesn't lie. If your technique is poor, it's right there staring back at you. I also think mirrors provide motivation. You can see how hard you're working and visually check your physical progress. I'll be honest- without a mirror, I'm not sure I could get a valid workout in that I would be satisfied with. I like to use the video camera with my basketball players. Many of them can't believe how bad their form is until they see it on the screen. For some, the first time they actually can watch themselves in the mechanical skill of shooting the basketball is the beginning of hope. We need to see ourselves honestly in all aspects of our lives. In the book of James, the writer compares the person who ignores God's teaching after being exposed to it to anyone who sees their reflection in a mirror and at once, forget the image of their own face. Maybe our personal reflection comes in introspective moments or maybe from the lips of a friend who loves us enough to be honest with us. It may come from our turning to the teachings of Jesus and asking the Lord for insight into personal applications. My female students never go anywhere without a mirror in their purses. The reason is obvious; at any minute of the day, they want to see how they look. There is a lesson in there for all of us, not just the weight lifters!
Applicable quote of the day:
"Life is a solitary cell whose walls are mirrors."
Eugene O'Neill
God bless,
Steve
Luke 18:1
http://www.hawleybooks.com/
E-mail me at steve@hawleybooks.com
1 comment:
After I started lifting (just a couple of years ago) I realized the value of a mirror. The coach and the mirror would both correct me. And the point you make is a very good lesson for life.
Thanks for visiting my son's blog and posting a comment. He thinks he wants to make this a group effort of people who want to write a sports story every other week or so. Do you like to write about sports? Would you want to consider writing for it?
wb
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