In a room home to several picture frames that shelter key memories from my life, one hanging mount now sticks out among the rest.
Basking in the nostalgia, I was eager to ferry that free-spirited feeling from my youth into the present moment. Each one of us spawned into this world with an appetite for wonder, and an extensive imagination to construct our dream world. Somewhere along the way, this hunger for splendor gets curbed, as many humans neglect their inestimable power to create due to incessant focus on their lackluster three-dimensional reality. There are many reasons as to why people fall through this hazardous trapdoor in the floor, but spotting them just makes it worse, which is why the strongest step to take to avoid plummeting is obsessing over the good. The more we concentrate on the marvelous elements in life, the more we will recollect our ability to bring forth astonishing outcomes. Should we stay true to this premise, we will enhance both our faith and our desire to lead from within and bring back the driver that steered our perception to the right places as a child.
To live by this, one must begin zoning in on the brilliance around them, which is how the arts-and-crafts project in this blog’s featured image came to life. One of my favorite happenings from my debut book, Trust The Grind, was the project being utilized in schools across the country. To commemorate these blessings, my mom and I turned back the clock by manufacturing a showpiece similar to the ones we would make for me in elementary school.
With a pair of jaded scissors, a run-of-the-mill glue stick, an aged picture frame, and a common goal, the two of us got to work. Akin to how these types of activities played out when I was in grammar school, my mother did the bulk of the physical labor while I watched from afar to offer suggestions on placements. Just like the projects I would lug on the bus to school, I was more than happy with the final outcome of this piece of art. Below are a few of my favorite elements from the design. Each referenced fragment is paired with a short blurb outlining my appreciation.
This school in Texas selected my book for their “Librarian in the Huddle” program, which was a class dedicated to encouraging student-athletes to read more. The arrangement, created by the amazing librarian in the above photo, went so well in the classroom, the American Libraries Magazine featured the creative concept in one of their issues. Pretty sweet!
For their Community of Readers Day, a bunch of sports-loving kids read my book at this high school in Ohio. Quick fun fact, AJ Barner, a tight end for the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks, attended Aurora High. Since I felt a personal connection to the school, I ended up drafting Barner in my fantasy football league.
A coach at Clovis North High School recommended a pair of books to his student-athletes: Trust The Grind and Kobe Bryant’s Mamba Mentality. As a hoops fan, it doesn’t get much cooler than that.
The 7th graders at this school in Mississippi had two nonfiction authors to choose from for summer reading: Anne Frank or Jeremy Bhandari.
Back in the day, Rick Rubin and Billy Crystal attended Long Beach High.
The 9th graders at this school in Brooklyn read my book and ended up inviting me to come speak. Upon arrival, I was surprised with Trust The Grind-inspired poems and Trust The Grind-themed cupcakes. The school is located on Bay Parkway, which was right by where Sandy Koufax grew up, and in close proximity to where they filmed Henry Hill and Karen’s wedding reception for my favorite movie, Goodfellas.
Inspired by the aforementioned “Librarians in the Huddle” program, this school in Virginia adopted a similar class for their football players. To me, there’s nothing better than hearing about a reader who penned his personal targets after reading the goal-setting chapter (featuring Chipper Jones).
I’m on a list with Drew Brees. Also, this was the first school I ever spoke at.
Roland Smith’s Peak is a classic novel for this age range, so to be grouped with it is a true honor.
While I’ve never stepped foot in England, Trust The Grind resides on a few reading lists across the pond. Aside from the above, it was also recommended for students at South Wilts Grammar School and The Lenham School.