Discovering New Passions
Discovering New Passions
As a teenager, sports were a big part of my life. Basketball, in particular, taught me lessons about discipline, teamwork, perseverance, and healthy competition.
Like many young athletes, I dreamed about continuing to play at a higher level, but an injury during high school changed those plans. At the time, it felt like a major setback. Looking back, however, it simply opened the door to other adventures I hadn't yet imagined.
When I attended Southern Oregon University, I discovered something that would become one of my lifelong hobbies: scuba diving. What started as a college class quickly turned into a passion.
There is something incredible about entering a completely different world, one where the pace slows down, the noise disappears, and every dive offers the possibility of seeing something you've never seen before.
After earning my scuba certification in 1988, I began a journey that has now spanned decades and hundreds of dives. I've explored underwater environments throughout Mexico, Hawaii, Australia, and many other destinations, encountering everything from colorful coral reefs and sea turtles to sharks. People often ask if swimming with sharks is scary. My answer is usually no. In fact, I'd much rather swim with sharks than jump out of a perfectly good airplane. Skydiving remains firmly on my "not interested" list.
Sports, however, never completely left my life.
As a business owner, I had the opportunity to enjoy one of the perks that came with years of hard work: season tickets to Portland Trail Blazers games. Some of my favorite memories involve sitting court-side and watching NBA legends compete at the highest level. It's one thing to watch basketball on television; it's another entirely to see athletes like LeBron up close and appreciate the size, skill, and intensity they bring to the game.
My love of sports is something I've gradually shared with my wife, Gladys. When we first met, she wasn't nearly as interested in attending sporting events as I was. Over time, however, she began to appreciate the excitement, energy, and experience of being there in person. These days, she's happy to join me for games. Let's just say her enthusiasm tends to increase in direct proportion to how close we are to the action.
Whether it's basketball, scuba diving, golfing, or any of the other adventures I've pursued throughout life, I've found that some of the most rewarding experiences begin by saying "yes" to something new. You never know where that next opportunity, hobby, or passion might lead.
