What Happens When You Fully Commit
(Even to Basketball)
The Commitment
The first time I yelled myself hoarse cheering for a women’s basketball team, I surprised even myself. I’ve never been a sports person. But that night, something shifted.
Becoming fully you often requires stepping outside your comfort zone to see what’s truly possible. For me, that doorway opened when I decided—almost impulsively—to invest in season tickets for the Valkyries, San Francisco’s new women’s professional basketball team.
I’d never watched much sports beyond my daughters’ high school games, yet something about this team called to me. I wanted to support them, to be part of something fresh and fierce. So, I bought season tickets. I didn’t realize then how much that single commitment would change me.
The Power of Commitment
What really happens when you commit—to a person, a passion, or a practice? You change.
Suddenly, I had several lavender shirts in my closet (I’ve never been a pastel person). My social calendar revolved around home games. I found myself opening conversations with, “Did you see last night’s game?”
Somewhere along the way, I became passionate about women’s basketball—and that passion became contagious. The more excited I was, the more other people wanted to know what all the buzz was about.
Connection Through a Common Language
There’s a scene in City Slickers where three men talk about their fathers, and one says the only thing they ever discussed was sports. It was their safe emotional language. Sports gave them permission to connect without having to say, “I love you.”
I used to roll my eyes at that, but now I get it.
While traveling in Florence last week, I saw two American women and—somewhat randomly—asked if they followed the WNBA. They did! We immediately bonded over the Valkyries and the Lynx. I’ve even started conversations in bars with people who’ve never watched a game. It doesn’t matter whether they follow it or not; sharing enthusiasm opens the door to connection.
People are siloed these days—working from home, communicating through screens, rarely bumping into one another. We celebrate flexibility but rarely talk about the loss of spontaneous connection. Sports, I’ve realized, offer a simple bridge back to community.
You can talk about the game, celebrate, mourn, and laugh together. Even when your team loses, you still belong.
Learning to Love the Whole Game
Watching the Valkyries taught me to care in a new way. I learned that it’s not just about winning; it’s about being in the arena—literally and emotionally. Cheering, commiserating, watching the team evolve—it’s all part of the growth.
When players were traded or new ones joined, I felt the sting of change, just like in life. It reminded me of being a kid, heartbroken when Tito Fuentes was moved to San Diego when the Padres were starting their team. I felt a hole in my heart. Now I see it differently: teams evolve, players move, the spirit endures.
This year, as the league expands and rosters shift again, I’ll feel that mix of sadness and excitement. And I’ll learn to love the new players as they become part of “Ballhalla.”
The Expansion Effect
The electric energy of being in the arena—the roar, the unity, the collective hope—shifted something in me. It changed the energy in my body. I didn’t just watch the game; I felt it.
That surge of passion cracked something open, creating space for new possibilities in other areas of my life. It reminded me that when we care deeply about something—even something unexpected—we become more alive, more connected, more fully ourselves.
Supporting the Valkyries didn’t just make me a basketball fan. It made me a believer in commitment, connection, and the power of shared passion to expand who we are.
Takeaway
When you say yes—really yes—to something that excites you, you don’t just change your calendar. You change your chemistry. You light up. And that light is what draws other people, new experiences, and a bigger life into your orbit.
The Emperor card, the pull for today, is your invitation to commit to something that builds your inner authority. Claim your power by showing up, not just occasionally, but every time. Because devotion turns into transformation.
Tarot Pull
The Emperor
The Emperor card is about commitment, structure, and leadership. It’s the energy of taking your place in the world with confidence. Buying those season tickets wasn’t just a whim. It was me stepping into my own authority, and showing up consistently game after game with a full heart. The Emperor’s structure shows how you get freedom through consistency like following a playbook creates magic on the court. Structure doesn’t limit passion. It gives you shape.