Knowingness

I watched a video of Allen Iverson’s press conference on last night.  He’s returning to the 76′ers and boy is he happy about it.  And so am I for that matter.  Although it was a ‘sports entertainment’ press conference, I found it to be quite enlightening.  Please take a few minutes to watch the video and then I’ll explain.

There are 3 things regarding ‘knowingness’ that I would like to point out in the above video.

1.  Allen Iverson says, ‘I created a picture of me that is not me’.  First let me point out that he is taking FULL RESPONSIBILITY for his actions.  He is not blaming the media for creating this picture.  He KNOWS that he was/is the artist in his creation.  Sometimes in order for you to know who you are, you have to realize who you are NOT.  In order to know light, you have to experience dark.  In order to know that you are worthy of every great and powerful thing, you may have to experience the feeling of unworthiness and lack.  So it’s those ‘bad’ experiences that teach us more and more about who we are.  Who we truly are.

2.  Allen Iverson say’s, ‘I was born to be a basketball player.  If I couldn’t play basketball at the level I’m accustomed to…’.  This really hit home for me.  Not only does he KNOW ‘what he came here to do’, he also knows that it has to be ‘on his level’.  In other words, it’s not enough to just play basketball, it’s GOT to be at a particular level.  He’s GOT to play at his best.  He’s GOT to keep improving his skills.  He’s GOT to give it his all.  And it’s the same at this game called Life.  We are given only a short window of time to ‘know ourselves’.  The knowing of which obligates us to Be the Best Self.  No more excuses.  There’s no time for that.  The bell has rung, the clock is ticking, the whistle has been blown.  We’re in it to win it.

And

3.  Allen Iverson say’s, ‘I’m human and I’m gonna make mistakes’.  Now that’s something I think we can ALL empathize with.  We have all experienced the ‘mistake’.  It’s what you ‘know’ after making that mistake that makes the difference.  If  in making that mistake you become a little bit more familiar with yourself, then so be it.  If in making that mistake, you begin to accept who you are, then so be it.  It was in A.I.’s mistakes that he realized how important it was for him to excel at playing basketball.  He realized how important playing with a team that he loves truly means to him.  So, I made a mistake.  Now what?  What did I learn from it?  What did I gain from it?  How much better do I know myself because of it?

Allen Iverson was moved to tears in this video.  Not tears of saddness, but tears of ultimate joy.  A grown man crying over a game of basketball.  That’s what most will see.  But not I says J-licious.  I see a soul glowing in the ‘knowing’ of who he is.

In love,

J-licious

© Copyright 2009/12/05  Jacque Keil All Rights Reserved