Keep Pushing and No Kings Day

"Government for the people, by the people," is what Abraham Lincoln said in his Gettysburg address. When the people speak, the government needs to listen because it is there FOR us, not to rule us. If you were following the news this weekend, you would have seen that the people of the United States and around the world are starting to hold our government accountable for this phrase. The No Kings protests are public challenges against Trump and his hold he has on the government, making the people feel like our democracy is collapsing and turning into a monarchy. More than 5 million people across the country have been halting their lives, their days, and risking what could be potentially their lives by standing up for what they know is right. Their numbers, signs, and chants send one message and one message only to the White House and the man who sits in the Oval Office, "the United States of America is a free country and the White House is not a palace. There is no room in our country for a King!"

This coming weekend, we have a tournament at the University of Alabama against some high level schools, and while I am excited to be able to play with no pressure to win, I am also worried. Whenever you play someone better than you and you are "supposed" to lose, there is zero pressure. Anything you do good is amazing because it is better than the expectations that were put on you. So, because of this, there is a lot of excitement but also some stress put on myself to perform and "show off" because I know I can play at the level if I really focus and want to! Midterms were a bit of a roller coaster, but after a week of difficulties, I was able to complete and walk away with one B. From the shooting on homecoming to internet issues to Canvas being down for a whole day and the due date for grades being pushed back again and again, I can finally say I am done with that half of the semester and get to cruise again through the next couple of weeks till finals. As much as I enjoy school, and I am enjoying my classes this semester because they are interesting, I am looking forward to being done with this semester and letting my brain rest for a minute. It's hard to think sometimes when my brain doesn't stop, it's thinking 24/7 about school, work, and life, and sometimes it overloads and stops thinking. My memory gets worse, and I have the feeling I cannot do anything anymore, and though I have hit this point multiple times these past couple of weeks, I manage to keep pushing, working, and moving towards my goals. My teacher stopped me yesterday when he asked me how I was, and I said tired. We then did the back and forth of, don't use that as an excuse, and proceeded to list everything he had done that day to which I responded, "I still show up, don't I?" I say I am tired because I am sick of people lying through their teeth, saying they are fine or ok all the time, so my new answer is simply tired. I don't say it as an excuse or a complaint, I say it as an honest response. I show up when I need to, and I make that my motto because even though I cannot give the same 100% every single day I can give 100% for that day, and that needs to count for something. Life is hard, but showing up and doing your best is all you need to do to keep getting closer to your goals. One step a day is better than zero if you are trying to climb a mountain. Don't give up, lie down and quit. Keep slowly stepping forward every day, no matter the mood, the energy, or the capacity you have, because when you look back, you see the total progress and those tiny steps that seem useless now might have a huge impact in a few years! You got this!