This year, though, I could point to three separate players who used to fall into the aforementioned category. I used to loathe their very presence - every eye roll, every lazy walk up the court, every smart-ass comment made me want to very personally and not-so-gently escort them from the gym. Not this year. Now I love them as players. This year I saw essential qualities from them - always mixing it up in some way, doing the little things that would help their team and themselves win. They've become the type of kid whose potential as a player and as a competitor in the arena of life I believe in. All I had to do was be patient.
Most people, myself included, are quick to label others they meet and file them neatly into categories: friendly, boring, jerk, amusing, liar, etc. We place them in that file, expect that behavior from them constantly, and only seek in future interactions to prove our initial classification.
There are also those people that we've known for a long time, usually people that we're stuck with, who in many ways we've lost hope for. An annoying coworker. An incompetent boss. A passion-less spouse. A distant sibling. A neighbor who can't be outside without blasting music from their car stereo to serenade the neighborhood.
Don't give up on them. Not quite yet. They're still developing, still learning, still growing. Be patient. Personal (and player) development is ongoing, and it's impossible to tell what the finished product might be. They may annoy you or disappoint you or cause you pain now. And they may always be that way. But maybe not. They just may turn into exactly the kind of players you need in your life. If they do, you'll want them on your team.
And pray, like I desperately pray, that your spouse, your kids, your coworkers, and your neighbors are patient with you too. We've all got a long way to go.
***Other "Notes from Camp 2013" Posts:
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