Zen
Casey Holdaul from the Trailblazers conducted an interview with me the other day talking about a couple different things. One of the things he focused on was me calming down this year. I guess you can call it finding my ZEN. Now, Zen is kind of an overused word because in American culture you hear it thrown around as a hoax. Truthfully, it is a beautiful word that demonstrates how one is able to cultivate everything in their world and come to peace with themselves for the period of time that they meditate. Even though that is my own definition, I think that's the best way to describe it. Anyway, you are probably wondering whyI’m writing about this. Well, a couple reasons. Over the summer, one of my goals was to try to find my Zen. In the article, Casey talks about how I let basketball get me so wrapped up the first two years of my career that I forgot that there were other parts of life. In today'ssociety ,I know that I am not the only one that goes through these things. Millions upon millions of people get wrapped up in this same notion that I once had, which was “work is my life”. Truthfully, you get burned out doing this with whatever job you have. By no means am I saying I don't love my job,because to me I have the greatest job in the world. What I'm trying to figure out is -- have you found your Zen? Have you found that one thing that in the mornings when you wake up you can just lay in your bed and think about that's instantly going to start your day off right? Have you found that thing that can transform you out of the most angry and vulnerable attitudes to one of happiness? It’s tough I know, but being able to find this state of mind that you can go to whenever you're in need of an outlet from the world is priceless. Personally, it took me awhile to find mine, but I'm sure you will find yours much sooner! Let me know...
JB
13 comments:
JBay -
I found mine many years ago - my wife is my 'Zen'... nothing makes me happier than making her happy! I was fortunate enough to find my better half early in life as we are high school sweethearts. I turn 30 next month and have been married 10 yrs next May and together for 14 years come January 2011. In my eyes, there's nothing more beautiful...more perfect than she. Wish you the best of luck this year and I am looking forward to watching the new Jerryd Bayless from the best seat possible - at home, on the couch, with my arm around my wife - Go Blazers!!
P.S. Looking forward to traveling from here in Bend with the family to watch in person at the Fanfest and with my dad on Oct. 5th against LAC!
I enjoyed reading your comments. It’s been fun watching you grow as a basketball player and a person. I’m self-employed and there is a lot of stress that goes with that, but it’s nothing like the stress you face as a public figure that is expected to perform at the highest level. For me I’ve found great inner peace that helps me cope with the anxieties of life by acknowledging our loving and kind creator, Jehovah God, and cultivating a relationship with him. This is possible because he is interested in us.
While reading your blog post I kept thinking about how fast this life goes by. How quickly things change and shape us into who we are. You talk about finding your "zen" and I can honestly say, I am not exactly sure what my "zen" is but what I do know is that during the last five years of my life I have met a lot of incredible people. Some that have actually changed my life forever because it was they were who have helped to bring me where I am today. During the past five years of my life I have made many discoveries which have lead me toward the path of finding my "zen". One discovery that has remained important for me is how I always used to get so caught up in the lifestyle in Phoenix, Arizona. While living in Phoenix I didn't realize that the speed of the city is so fast, you can hardly see it passing you by. Within Phoenix there are groups of people that stick together and act as each other's backbone. Groups of people that have a bond in which is so strong, strong enough to create a "bubble" which can be very difficult to see out of. Once I started realizing this I began searching. I wanted to leave the hot Valley of the Sun because I thought that everywhere else in the world had life figured out. Now, I am realizing that no matter where you go in this world there will be always be groups of people who get caught up in living in that so called, "bubble". Today, I sit in a little city in the middle of southern Sweden. This cute little city, which is unknown to many, is truly incredible. I am so thankful to be one of the lucky persons to discover this charming place. Here I am making a new discovery- appreciation. We should appreciate and be proud of where it is that we come from because that place helps to shape us into who we are. As I continue to grow into the person that I want to be, I continue to discover new things about this life- leading me toward my "ultimate zen".
JB,
I can't tell you how much I resonate with what you're saying here. There's really nothing more important in life than finding that calm point, that still center in the storm. It doesn't matter what comes your way, you're ready for it. There's a couple of things, too, that can make that stability even stronger. I don't mean to come off as a "teacher" or any crazy stuff like that, it's just that you've inspired me to think about these things, and some of the words of MY teachers naturally come to my mind. First, and I think most important, there's not many people on earth who can really just be chill all the time and never get thrown off center - ultimately, the important thing is to be able to recover as quickly as possible, not to stay perfect all the time. When I learned that, and REALLY learned it, in my bones - I was just so happy. The other big thing I learned that was big for me was to learn how much of that calm comes from action.
Sounds crazy?
But calm and action, zen and passionate fight, come from the same place and are two sides of the same coin. Sometimes I get so zen I forget to do things! haha, sounds nuts but it's true. But equally, sometimes I get so pissed and so wound up, that I (like you) forget there are other things to life, and that there is this calm center in me. Life's pretty dynamic, I guess.
Anyway - it was awesome seeing you at Fanfest. I hope you keep writing during the season! It's going to be a great one!
Eric in SE PDX
hey i saw that huge picture of your jersey on the side of the adidas building this morning!!! awesomeness!!!! :D
Hey Jerryd,
I just saw that you got traded. As a Blazers fan, I've always admired your game and I wish you the best of luck in New Orleans. Sorry it didn't work out better for you here than it did, but maybe you can really shine out there.
MS
Hey Jerryd,
I just read about the trade to New Orleans. I wanted you to know that my husband and I (and Blazers fans in general) appreciate the hard work you put in here in Portland. I know you want to be a force in the league and with your work ethic I truly believe you will get there. I love your passion on the court, in an offense that is not always that exciting to watch you were the spark. I hope you have an easy adjustment to life in New Orleans and that you are able to get more playing time there. I will certainly be cheering extra hard for you and Monty when the Blazers play New Orleans during the season. I hope you know you can always find a home and loyal fans in Portland. Also, keep up the blog. I love reading it. God bless.
-Kira
Good luck with everything Jerryd you are an awesome basketball player and person!!
We'll miss ya' Jerryd =( Take that starting job from CP3, playa!
oh yeahh^^^ we will miss you so much!!!! hope you like it in New Orleans!
Go find your zen in New Orleans you bum! You couldn't get playing time here for a reason, you're a selfish, low IQ, drive to the rim and hope for a foul type of player. Have fun in basketball purgatory!
What the hell's up with this hater Tim? If you don't like him don't go on his blog!
Grow up.
Hey JB, I was really saddened to hear that you were traded and I really hope you can turn this trade into something positive for yourself. Good luck in new orleans i'm sure i can speak for a lot of people when i say we will rooting for you all the way!... except Tim, he is a douche.
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