You ever have so much to write about that you don't know where to start? Yeah, me neither...

It's been a while since I last wrote something on here and that's mostly due to the hazards of life:

• Basketball
• Watching anime (Naruto at this point and hoooooooly is it sick or what?)
• Finding time to feed and clean myself as necessary
• And oh yeah, my mom visited for 2 weeks and my girlfriend for the following month and a half

Mostly the first three points, but still...

So, as per the title, I am an aspiring basketball player, making my way through the ranks and working for the next pro contract. This being my 3rd season playing basketball, it is also the 3rd season that I am not being paid to do so. This is not how all aspiring athletes live their lives, but this is how I have made my way so far.

I chose the long, lonely route.

The end goal has always been the same: 

• work hard and get enough recognition to be able to live off of the sport that I've been playing since I was a teen. 

This season has gone pretty well - on the court. I've been playing well and putting up some decent stats against good teams and even gotten in contact with an agent who said he would help me find a team for next season (not holding my breath though)

Off the court is a different story.

A little background first:

• This is my 3rd season in France
• My first 2 seasons were with the same team and the current one is with a different team at a higher level.
• After 2 seasons of playing basketball and working on the side, I've accumulated a respectable amount of money to last a few months.
• I am receiving no help whatsoever from my club team, financially or otherwise. 

The Struggles

As written above, I am not supported in the slightest by my club. I found the apartment through a teammate. I pay for my own rent and electric bills. If I work, it is because I've found myself a job. 

This is not easy.

Beyond the regular hassles of paying bills and finding a job, I am a foreigner in a different country which leads to an abundantly larger pile of paperwork and hoops to jump through. However, I am lucky enough to speak the native language of the country that I am playing in. 

At this point in the season, there are 3 months left and I don't have enough money to finish out the season.

Most people would have quit, or worse, not even started. But I started, and I intend to finish. 

All In All

If I see the fruits of my labor blossom into what I've been dreaming about next season, it would have all been worth it. 

And WHEN that happens, I'll have to come up with another dream, something to achieve and help me improve myself through experience and failure.