Do it for Yourself

This is a story told to me by my husband Sam, who occasionally pokes buttons and makes them go brrr! on the backend of Hey Rebekah. Growing up during the 80’s in the suburbs of LA, Sam was surrounded by two things. The Lakers and the pressures that come with being the second generation of a mixed South Asian family.

Sam knew more about Magic and Kareem’s stats than he did about quadratic equations. Every now and then, that would alarm his dad. Just as the Laker’s showtime era was reaching it’s peak, he called a sit-down and encouraged Sam to get serious about my future.

Thank Odin that Sam's mom called the shots at home. Yeah, go figure! A South Asian being told what to do by the British.

Choosing what you love

Sam's mom was unconditionally supportive and helped him realize that there was more to a fulfilling career than just status, or the endless pursuit of material wealth. Sam recognizes the privilege but it still wasn’t easy.

It’s helped him empathize with the bravery of heroes like Simone Biles and superstars like Tyrell Terry. On Christmas Day 2020, Terry made his mark on the NBA stage. The former Stanford University guard scored his first points against none other than, Sam's Lakers. 🤦🏽

Here he is playing along side Luka and staring down Lebron, all by the tender age of 20. For most, he had everything he could dream of. $1,500,000 in guaranteed salary playing for the Mavericks, fame, and all the fringe benefits.

Live your truth

Sam can’t imagine the pressures that went into Tyrell’s decision. But he thinks he did the right thing! In fact, it’s not just Sam.

Hey Tyrell! We’re all with you and applaud you for going #slow to find your #flow. We believe that prioritizing your mental health and well being is the key to leading a fulfilling and successful life no matter what the haters say.