When I see my daughter through my eyelids… I don’t see a responsibility. I see something to protect. Her arrival alerted my natural instinct — to apply pressure to the systems that once shaped me.
I know the feeling of being programmed. Of having my judgment and ability to feel the natural order interrupted. I can recall every decision I made that went against what’s real. But it’s never too late to remove the chip… To breathe again — like it’s actually free to do so.
❤️ Aid – Unlearning to Rebuild
This isn’t about money. It’s about connection. It’s about raising, not just sending off. About lifting them up — not giving them up.
She’s only three. And she’s already been schooled. Already forming attachments with teachers I didn’t choose. Her communication, her potty training, her sense of discernment — all developing through systems that often don’t prioritize connection.
She’s pushed away when she asks for attention. And that attention is the very thing her spirit needs to grow.
This isn’t a parenting issue. It’s a programming issue. And the hardest part of parenting? Unlearning what was done to us — while trying to raise someone we love with fresh eyes.
⚓️ Gratitude – What She Deserves
I’ve taken time to sort through my wounds. I’m not perfect. But I know this is a pivotal moment. This isn’t about pushing her faster. It’s about preparing her with love, with order, and with awareness.
She needs to know: She’s not alone in wanting connection. She’s not crazy for needing presence. She doesn’t have to be rushed.
This is my seed. She didn’t ask to be here. And she’s not here to be trained to just perform.
She’s here to be raised. To grow in her timing. To trust her parents. To trust her own light.
I want her to know she can do, be, and create whatever she wants — as long as she’s in order.
Because order is what unlocks purpose. Order is what protects peace. And order is what helps us remember:
Slow comes before fast. Stillness comes before growth. Love comes before the lesson.
And when I close my eyes… and see her through my eyelids — that’s the truth I hold.
🧠❤️ How This Post Embodies Brains and Guts
Brains (Wisdom & Awareness)
Guts (Courage & Action)
Recognizing how old systems shaped your decisions
Speaking truth about parenting without hiding behind ego
Reframing “discipline” as emotional presence
Letting go of wounds while building something better
Seeing your daughter as a spirit needing guidance, not control
Calling out societal programming publicly to inspire others
Understanding that order and love create true growth
Choosing connection over convenience, purpose over performance
Kids don’t really play outside anymore. The games we used to play — using our own imagination, flying, speeding in imaginary cars, jumping with sounds and explosions — they’ve been replaced by screens and fixed realities.
The attention span of this generation is now occupied by constant stimulation. Imagination, once a muscle we flexed daily, has been replaced with repetition, reaction, and reward cycles.
And It’s Not Just the Kids…
The adults are unknowingly leading the pack. Not all — but many have been consumed by the race for fortune, status, and ego. Competing with strangers. Losing sight that each experience is unique and divinely timed.
Women and men are being pit against each other. Nature’s original purpose — collaboration and balance — is being distorted. The rules of connection are being used against us.
🧠 BRAINS: Seeing the Pattern
This isn’t just a “kids these days” rant. It’s a call to awareness. A moment to look at the aids we’ve been offered to fill our mental space:
What’s replaced your imagination?
What comfort has turned into distraction?
What thoughts are no longer your own?
We’ve feared AI… but have we become the robots already?
⚡️ GUTS: Choosing a Different Path
When I was a kid, I walked everywhere.
To school. To the store. To my friend’s house. I didn’t need headphones — I had rhythms, I had rhyme schemes, I had games like “don’t step on the cracks.”
I used those walks to imagine. To talk myself through problems. To create my own world — and find my own way.
It was my escape. And when video games or TV weren’t an option — outside was the command. And imagination was free to grow.
So I ask you:
What’s your aid now? What wakes up your imagination in this age of attention? Is it still active? Or has it been lulled to sleep?
❤️ GRATITUDE: Reclaim the Inner World
Our time is our time. No one else’s.
The trees still know balance. The insects, the animals, the water — they all follow the natural order. We, the most conscious species, are the ones who’ve drifted.
But we can come back. It starts with simple moments of silence… stillness… and imagination.
Plant a seed. Don’t gatekeep it. Let your children see it. Let your friends feel it. Let your soul wake up again.
The word practice still holds value. It’s a sacred space. A place where we aim to master the movements we want to repeat with ease. That’s something I’m grateful for. Because every great performance starts with a private repetition that was once a struggle.
But now that I’m deeper in this BAG mindstate, I’m more aware of what I’m practicing — and why.
Balance Comes First
Practice isn’t just about getting better at one thing. It’s about asking:
“How does this movement add balance to my whole game?”
Because if it doesn’t serve balance, it doesn’t serve the player long-term. We’ve confused mastery with memorization. But BAG teaches us that real mastery is movement with purpose.
What Makes Practice Great?
There is no single perfect path to excellence — but the efficiency of the path matters. It’s measured by how much balance it adds to your game and life.
If the dribble move improves your shot mechanics – Great practice. If the layup drills tighten your dribble control – Great practice. If sled rebounds build your resilience & patience – Great practice. If counting down 5-4-3-2-1 builds team rhythm and trust – Great practice.
The Key?
Be intentional. Be observant of your body. Watch how your balance shifts. Listen for aids — physical cues, internal signals, emotional triggers. They’re always there when you pay attention.
To All the Coaches Out There:
If you’re coaching with heart and awareness — I salute you. Keep teaching. Keep serving. Keep growing. Your way is yours.
The BAG way is just another way. A way built on Balance, powered by Aids, and rooted in Gratitude.
We’re walking together. And I’ll always be grateful for that.
Author’s Note: Living the BAG mindstate means sharing reflections as they happen. Here’s what rose up for me today on the court—and in life.
A Moment of Rest at the Summit
I’ve been busy living 🧠⚡️❤️⚓️. This morning delivered a profound reminder: the top isn’t a place you reach—it’s a place you stay. Once you arrive, the only option is to keep going.
Balance in Competition
Competition is woven into our nature—and into basketball. But I’ve learned that true balance in competition isn’t about winning or losing. It’s about playing with honest values, giving your all, and trusting the flow of the game.
Balance: Showing up fully—mind, body, spirit—without fear of outcome.
Misses and turnovers? They’re not failures—they’re opportunities to grow, moments to reflect for better balance next time, since we keep getting the chance to express.
Aid Through Generosity
When you pass the ball, you’re offering more than a simple assist. You’re giving the energy you’ve stored up—your focus, your intention, your gratitude. And the game gives back in equal measure.
Aid: Every good pass, every perfect shot—these are gifts exchanged between players.
Gratitude in the Flow
Hearing “Great pass!” or “Nice shot!” It’s not just competition—it’s shared celebration. It’s two or more people from different paths finding common ground through balance.
I had the best game of the year today. We laughed. We flowed. We honored the court and each other. And through every swish and every cheer, I felt gratitude.
Gratitude: In every moment of play, we experience the freedom that comes from balanced giving and receiving.
Closing Prayer
May the impact of balance bless every part of our lives—on and off the court. I know the players I played with today feel it, too.
The Way to Play the Game Is to show up, give your best, and celebrate the balance we create together.
Date: Category: Brains & Guts Reflections Author: Coach BAG
The Beginning of BAG’s Purest Form
Today was powerful. A reminder — of why I started. And why I’ll never stop.
This is simply the beginning. The beginning of pure, open BAG — no gatekeeping, no holding information for later. The BAG mindstate is meant to be shared in real-time. Every aid, every discovery, every moment of balance that enters my life will be given to the next generation, immediately.
Because this is how the Bright Advancing Generation will grow — not in secret, but in the light.
Balance Found In A Smile
I trained a young man today. Unplanned. Random. But the moment revealed itself exactly as it was meant to.
What started as a simple reconnection with the aids for myself… Became a moment where I became the aid for him.
I watched him begin to understand balance — like riding a bike for the first time. And as the balance took hold, the smile came.
That smile — I know it well. Because it’s the same smile that saved me. The smile of clarity. The smile of understanding. The smile of gratitude.
Why I Train
I don’t do this for income. I don’t do this for numbers. I do this for one reason only: To serve as the aid for the next generation.
The BAG method isn’t about forcing change. It’s about revealing what was always already inside you — balance.
Whether you’re on the path to the NBA, chasing a college scholarship, or simply finding peace within your skillset — Balance belongs to everyone.
The Flow of The BAG Mindstate
🧠 Balance — Recognize the tension. Respect it. ⚡️ Aid — Apply the adjustments that reveal control and freedom. ❤️ Gratitude — Smile. Feel it. Receive the gift.
Bright Advancing Generation Has Already Started
From my first client Sammy, to today’s young man… I’ve seen the same results over and over: Balance. Consistency. Confidence. Gratitude.
That’s BAG. That’s why I’ll keep walking. Keep sharing. Keep giving away these aids as they’re revealed to me.
There’s no competition. There’s only contribution. There’s only purpose.
Closing Reflection
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: Bright Advancing Generation is full of balance and hidden treasures.
Not because today feels any more special than any other day… …but because it’s a day every good man hopes to be acknowledged on. Some fathers — and I mean some (which is already too many) — never get to feel what this feels like. Not just for themselves, but for their kids — the energy exchange, the gift that never stops giving. A beautiful daughter that makes you feel like a lion 🦁. A strong son that you believe could be Hercules ⚡️. It’s truly nothing like being a father. The opportunity to breathe air and share it with them… It’s a responsibility worth dying for. It makes every second… every breath… full of gratitude.
The Aids That Shape Me I’ve been shaped by so many aids along this path: • The pain. • The mistakes. • The breakthroughs. • The lessons I prayed I would never repeat. • The grace I’ve received. And I’m still growing. This is an energy thing. I feel strong because I’ve stayed faithful. I feel grounded because I’ve found purpose. I’m living my dream — not in some material sense, but in the purest way possible: To be present. To love deeply. To choose balance over bitterness.
Crayons Show Love I remind myself daily: Crayons show love. It means that kids don’t need perfection — they need color. They need presence. They need the freedom to draw outside the lines while you stand beside them with patience, not control. That’s how we plant gratitude seeds. One seed at a time. One smile at a time. One prayer at a time.
Love Is Always the Choice The BAG Mindstate always brings me back to one truth: Love is the hardest choice… because it’s the most powerful. Hate doesn’t grow anything. Bitterness doesn’t build anything. But love? Love creates space for the next generation to thrive. Even in the toughest moments — Even when tested — Even when misunderstood — We choose love. We choose balance. And we end up… grateful.
Author’s Note: Brains & Guts isn’t just about what happens on the court. These entries document my real-time process of mastering the BAG mindstate — mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. This post reflects one of the most personal phases of my sharpening season. It takes brains to analyze where you are, and guts to stay on the path. Every word you read is part of that process.
The Pathway Is Unique
Bag is a mindstate you must enter and exit. At the entrance, you meet amazement and lost treasures — a secret pathway to the ultimate state of being. I’m simply speaking from my experience using the BAG mindstate.
While traveling in the pathway you continue to hear chants and screams from the entrance — the past versions of yourself desperately holding on to the possibility of your return. Once you enter, you have a choice:
Go backwards to the entrance
Or exit too soon and return prematurely.
As distance increases for me from the entrance, I can tell I’m starting to become hard to see — hard to make out. The frequency is desperate and continues to be loud due to the space between us. But as I keep my head down — not focused on destination, just moving forward — my steps fight for me and drown the noise. It’s aware of my arrival. It refuses to accept the accomplishment of my new state of being. I can’t move backward. I refuse. I’m becoming something that is foreign.
I know nothing is new underneath the sun, but I wonder who in my bloodline has walked this path before me and passed this experience into my hands. I’m grateful for them. I shall walk until we rise again.
No one. No noise will stop me from heading forward for us. The bag mindstate is a constant forward motion — not perfect, but progressing.
The Nature of the Sound
The sound uses words like “never” and “always.” It communicates strictly through judgment. It begs for empathy — but once you give it space, you become a perspective jumper… trying to decode its view, trying to justify your own.
When I’ve done that in the past, I didn’t move backwards — but I was tempted to leave the pathway.
That temptation is part of the test. It dangles my inner issues. It challenges me beyond my own understanding.
The Inner Battle Team
You can’t fight this with your adult self alone. Your inner child and the memories of your past must come to the fight with you.
That’s why I’m grateful for the ones who walked before me. I know they’re watching and assisting me. Inner child. Adult self. Ancestors.
We hold hands together as we walk. Reminding the sound:
“We’ve united before. And we stayed strong through this cycle of life.”
Time? Energy? They continue to shift this pathway to carry the story once told. And again, I stay out of the way —
Head down. Moving towards the inevitable.
Forward Is The Only Direction
The goal of the sound was to get me to go backwards. But I’ve realized:
Forward and steady is the pace of life inside the BAG mindstate.
Doubt is gone. Fear is gone. Pain is felt — but understood.
The deepest pain I once carried was not being involved in my child’s life as much as I would like. But I’ve chosen to release control over what I can’t hold. I’m grateful for every moment, at any capacity, I get to share my experience with my daughter.
For Her — And All Who Come After Me
The bag mindstate will meet her one day. I’m grateful to walk this path now — to share my experience. Even if not in words — I will love and bond with her in ways that imprint energy she’ll carry.
The ancestors will hold her hand, just as they held mine. Her inner child will fight the good fight for her one day.
Always grateful for the opportunity.
I walk this pathway with full faith. Every treasure I drop along the way may one day be found by her.
There is nothing new under the sun:
First born.
Separated from each other.
Father and daughter.
The cycle repeats, but the healing begins here.
The world may push fathers out of the home — but I will walk forward, into the pathway. Not only to find the exit, but to remind her that her father is a man who accepted balance… Who sought aids… And who reached gratitude.
🧠⚡️❤️⚓️
Post Summary Tagline: “Forward and steady is the pace of life inside the BAG mindstate.”
I remember being afraid. I remember having fear. Doing anything to create dullness in my experience — whether consciously or subconsciously.
But now? It’s the simplest things in life — the free ones — that make this experience unbelievable.
I remember trying to create things to supply my wants, influenced by other people’s thoughts and creations. Nowadays, I create my own experience from my own thoughts — inspired by the BAG mindstate.
🧠 My needs are supplied in abundance. ❤️ My wants are simple, minimal, and striking. ⚡️ My clarity is sacred. ⚓️ My energy is anchored in purpose.
Pain. Fear. Death.
Words that once carried weight… now carry light. I no longer run from them — I meet them in balance, break the tension, and find the aid that leads to gratitude.
🔥 Pain
Pain pushes. Sometimes toward victimhood… But now, I choose to let it lift my spirit. Let it sharpen my sword.
⚔️ Fear
Fear of the unknown once crippled me. Now, it challenges me. Like my grandmother said:
“Life is a challenge — who do you want to be? What do you believe? Where is your faith?” I breathe, I listen, I decide. Then I move — with balance, not emotion.
🌅 Death
Most live like they’re afraid of it. Rushing. Proving. Or staying still in fear. But for me? Every moment is a chance to shine so bright that even death can’t dim it.
That’s my faith leading the charge.
Now I Embrace It All
Pain. Fear. Death. They don’t break me — they inform me.
Now I shine with intention. I speak with presence. I live with discipline.
My hope? That my presence uplifts those feeling dull or afraid — That your light gets brighter just by reading these words. That you’ll see it’s possible — not just for me, but for your family, your future, your own Bag journey.
As I push through all obstacles in my path, I keep finding more light.
And if you’re reading this…
I hope you find more of yours, too.
Together, let’s bring life to others. Let’s live between the breaths — with balance, aid, and gratitude.
“When gratitude grows stronger, so does the resistance.” That’s something BAG has shown me, again and again.
Today was one of those days where the wave came hard. Not physically. But emotionally, spiritually… deeply.
I’ve been holding on silently — not to pain, but to hope. Hope that by becoming a better man, a more grounded father, a more purpose-led version of myself… I could somehow heal what was broken. Not just for me. But for her. For my daughter.
A 3-year-old who means the absolute world to me. She’s the reason I left a job that was draining my spirit. She’s the reason I sharpened the sword. She’s the reason I didn’t give up.
And yet, today… I was told I’m being taken to court. For more control. For more money.
But what about the time? What about the tears I’ve wiped? What about the growth I’ve chased in silence — so my daughter could one day be proud of me?
My past didn’t have this blueprint. I didn’t get to see what it looked like when a man walked away from chaos and chose purpose. I didn’t get to see restraint turn into protection. But I’m giving my daughter that blueprint. That’s the BAG way.
She deserves a father who doesn’t raise his voice in the name of love. She deserves presence. She deserves peace. She deserves balance.
And even though her mother and I are no longer aligned… I still wish her growth. I still wish her balance. I just can’t keep sacrificing my peace for the sake of pretending we’re okay.
Monday to Friday — 6am to 6:30pm. Me and my mom share the load. We don’t complain. We don’t ask for handouts. We show up — fully. Because showing up is love.
Today was heavy. But it was also honest. And that’s what Proverbs 16:11 reminds me:
“Honest scales and balances belong to the Lord; all the weights in the bag are of His making.”
This weight? It’s not to break me. It’s to shape me. And I’m still grateful. Even now. Because I know another wave of peace is coming.
Closing Thought:
If you’re reading this… and you’re trying to build something while holding your world together — stay in your BAG. Protect your peace. Lead with gratitude. And let the storm sharpen you.
“If you carry a sword, it’s not always to swing it-but to sharpen it.”
DAY 4 – Sharpening Season Begins
Focus: Recovery | Purpose | Refinement Symbol: The First Strike of the Blade Takes: BRAINS & GUTS
“If you carry a sword, it’s not always to swing it — but to sharpen it.”
Today marks the beginning of what I’m calling Sharpening Season. I’m still recovering, still building, but I’ve entered a new chapter — one where restraint, focus, and spiritual depth take center stage.
Light workouts.
Simple meals.
Refined movement.
Purpose-driven recovery.
This season is about sharpening the blade — not swinging it recklessly. And for the first time, I truly feel the shift into becoming Coach Bag, not just the player.
The Sword That Led Me Here
The BAG mindset led me to learn about something deeper — Masamune, the legendary Japanese swordsmith. His blades weren’t just tools — they were symbols of restraint and spiritual craftsmanship. That hit home.
That’s how I view BAG. God-given. Spirit-led. A lost treasure that I’ve been entrusted to carry, protect, and share. But like Masamune’s work, BAG must be:
Refined in silence
Sharpened in seasons like this
Built slowly with intention
This Took: BRAINS — Studying ancient mastery and aligning it to your modern mission. This Took: GUTS — Honoring your path even when it’s slow and unseen.
The Body Is Listening
I hyperextended my left leg recently. Honestly — it was discouraging. Especially because my right leg had just reached about 90% recovery. But this time? I came prepared.
I’m using the same voodoo band methods that helped last time — and the results are coming fast. From limping to walking again, I’ve been documenting everything.
And I’m genuinely proud of how I’ve applied the BAG recovery process to this injury. I’m not just healing. I’m evolving.
This Took: BRAINS — Applying proven techniques. This Took: GUTS — Showing up through pain with discipline and faith.
Small Wins = Big Growth
My diet is shifting too —
Less sugar
Fewer carbs
Better decisions
I didn’t go cold turkey. I took strategic cuts, starting slow and sustainable. And when I turned down a cookie I usually love, I felt the win.
Not because I was depriving myself — but because I remembered the mission.
This blade is getting sharper. And Coach Bag is being forged through discipline, not desire.
Becoming Coach Bag
There’s something deep happening. I’ve realized it’s time to step into my next form — not just as a player, but as a teacher.
It’s time to stop always trying to show people what I can do — and start teaching them how they can access it within themselves.
The blade isn’t dull. It’s being crafted into something more precise, more powerful, and more aligned with who I’m meant to be.
Wrap-Up: Sharpened, Not Silenced
Day 4 was about clarity. Recovery. Discipline. And the mindset of a master craftsman.
I’m proud of how I moved today — in thought, in spirit, and in the body. The shift into Coach Bag has started. And this journey is just getting sharper.
DAY 5 – The Day of Restraint
Focus: Emotional Growth | Self-Control | Letting Go Symbol: The Sheathed Sword Takes: BRAINS & GUTS
Yesterday was restraint again. An invite to hoop came… but I declined. Not from fear, but because I knew better.
I understood it was time to rest. It was a chance to coach myself, not just compete.
Later in the day, I went to a different, quiet park. Worked on the aids lightly, with intention. Still felt off.
But that led to a new search — An aid I once had… but lost.
This is the BAG way: Seeking balance. Finding the aid. Reaching gratitude.
Then, I took time to continue building the foundation with my mother. I’m blessed to have a mother so amazing and supportive. We’ve learned to discuss ideas and stay away from surface-level conversation.
It’s refreshing. It’s healing. It’s growth.
This bond used to be hard for me. Now it’s one of the best things I’ve ever known.
This Took: BRAINS – Trusting the slowdown. Realizing not every opportunity is for you. GUTS – Holding space for relationships and doing the deep work.
DAY 6 – Sharpen Everything
Focus: Execution | Refinement | Energy Management Symbol: The Sharpened Edge Takes: BRAINS & GUTS
Today was about sharpening everything — not just the sword.
Returned to work. Worked with a great man — seasoned, sharp, precise.
It’s a pleasure to work with someone who’s refined in their approach. His training process built more confidence in areas I lacked. Every task he gave me was something I needed to brush up on.
And because I’ve grown mentally, I handled the criticism and correction. He stepped in, and I grew immediately by accepting his help.
By far the best day I’ve had at the job. And the day before was good too… so yes, we’re sharpening.
Also — that shot I kept missing left? I couldn’t stop thinking about it.
While at work, I was practicing mentally. In the bathroom mirror. On my break. Fixing my forearm angle. Looking for that release location that would solve the miss.
After work, I gave my daughter all the love I had left in the tank. Dropped her off and headed straight to the park.
Gratitude. Everywhere. Swish after swish after swish.
Locked in the aid. Found form cues. Behind the backboard. Half court. Doesn’t matter.
Then I got home in time for leg rehab — Because Coach Bag’s health is the weapon.
I’m breathing motivation. Sharpen Season is in full effect.
Every day is exciting. Every day is worth it. It takes brains and guts. Always grateful.
This Took: BRAINS – Mental correction, focused discipline, balance in recovery and performance. GUTS – Showing up through fatigue, staying devoted to your vision, even when no one’s watching.
Wrap-Up – The Sharpened State
These three days weren’t flashy. They weren’t loud.
They were quietly transformative. They were sharpening moments.
Sharpening your sword doesn’t always lead to swinging it. Sometimes it’s in the restraint. Sometimes it’s in the search. Sometimes it’s in the love you give at the end of a long day. Sometimes it’s swishing a shot no one saw but you.
This is the Brains and Guts blog. This is the Balance Aids Gratitude way. This is Coach Bag.
Coach BAG 