Authenticity - What a strange concept in today's world. We are constantly under scrutiny from the whole of society, and the craziest part is that usually, we choose to put ourselves there. Then we are expected to be authentic but also flawless. This creates an enormous amount of pressure on the "entertainer", and unrealistic expectations from the "spectator". Is authenticity even possible without flaws?

Man, do I wish I was perfect! However, that is impossible. So, why do I feel such extreme pressure to portray myself as such? Being a professional athlete means that your entire life is dedicated to your career. How much you sleep, what you eat, how you dress, how you voice your mind, who you trust, how you train, where you train, and so much more. Every little detail can be the difference between success and failure. So, understandably most of us are perfectionists and control freaks. Everybody loves a winner, but how do we share the humanity of that process? How do I open up to you in a way that allows me to have my privacy but still be true to who I am?

I am a very private person, always have been. I take immense care in selecting my inner circle and prefer to stay to myself otherwise. This is not ideal for a professional athlete whose every decision, triumph, and ultimately failure gets a press release. Since I cannot stop this from happening short of quitting basketball and disappearing to some obscure location. I want to ensure that this narrative is something that I am not only comfortable with but proud of. For me, I must share my journey and life with all of you in an authentic way. I want you to see who I am, how I live my life, and never have to wonder if I am being honest. I am not a perfect person; Sometimes I fail, I make mistakes, I have flaws. I have always found that I feel the most moved and connected to the people who own these parts of their lives as much as they celebrate the good things. Lately, I have been feeling overwhelmed by my life and the lack of control I have over certain aspects of it. So, I am taking that control back by releasing myself from the expectation of perfection. I will share with you the good, the bad, and the ugly in an attempt to be my most authentic self. I am owning the moments that have brought me to all of the great successes and failures of my life so that we both might feel empowered by my truthfulness.

Authenticity might be embarrassing and difficult, but it is worth it. So, bear with me.