In addition to coaching golf, I recently submitted submitted abstracts for the the AASP conference in Montreal and the Global Congress on Sport and Christianity at Baylor University. While I await a decision from AASP, I’m excited to share that my abstract has been accepted for the Global Congress. I've found that speaking is some of the best professional development for me, as it helps me crystallize my thoughts around a topic and articulate them in a concise fashion.

After two seasons playing basketball at Georgia, Birmingham native Sarah-Ashlee Barker transferred to Alabama, returning home to represent her state. Showing steady improvement over each year in the SEC, she capped her career with a historic performance—scoring a program record 45 points in Alabama’s double-overtime battle against Maryland in the NCAA tournament. No moment was bigger than the three free throws she faced with 0.7 seconds left, her team trailing by three. This was the ultimate pressure test—where true character is revealed. Listen to how she describes that moment (1:12-2:23).

The mind naturally drifts—either replaying the past or anticipating the future, often at the cost of the present. In face we spend nearly 30% of our time is spent out of the present. Because a wandering mind tends to be more unhappy and less productive, let's consider a simple but powerful tool - feeling the now. By engaging the senses, we can anchor attention in the present moment. To feel the now, first pause, and then tune in to one sense at a time - sight, feel, sound, smell, or taste. 

By directing attention to your sensory experience with the 5-4-3-2-1 method, you pull yourself out of distraction and into the now—where clarity, calm, and performance thrive.

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