player. He went to every game he could and, when he couldn’t, he’d watch them on TV. He got ex-
cited when they were winning, angry at times when they were losing, and sad when they did lose.
Something Larry didn’t realize was how helpful it was going to be for him that he was such a strong
supporter of his team.
Unfortunately, there was a time when Larry got quite sick and had to go to the hospital. Things
can be pretty scary when your body isn’t working quite right and you don’t know what to do about
it. Things can be pretty scary when you don’t have control over what is going on and your mom and
dad can’t always be by your bedside. Some of the treatment the doctors and nurses give can be painful
and uncomfortable. I guess that’s why being such a good fan of his team helped Larry.
Larry was a pretty smart kid. He imagined his illness was like a game of basketball. He had an
opponent he needed to beat. He imagined himself being his favorite player—fit and strong, ready to
play out the whole game until he won. He thought how he needed to go the distance, even though
he might feel pushed to the limit of his abilities. The best of players, he thought, don’t give in, they
persevere and play through the whole game. He thought how even the best of players get hurt and
feel pain at times. They manage pain and injury better than most people, his dad told him, by keep-
ing their mind focused on what they needed to do.
He’d read a lot about what makes a sportsperson good because he wanted to be one himself.
He’d read how top athletes were in touch with what they called the “winning feeling.” They thought
about success more than failure. They learned from their mistakes but didn’t worry about them. They
focused more on what they did well... and on doing it better.
Larry had also read about something called “tunnel vision.” It’s something a player has when he
is so focused he can switch off things that aren’t important—the weather, the booing or cheering of
the crowd... and pain. If you want to shoot a three-pointer you have to be relaxed and focused.
There is no room for distraction. You have to apply all your strength, effortlessly. Larry had tried prac-
ticing it when he played basketball. Now he practiced it in the hospital. He focused on being well.
He imagined what it would feel like to slam dunk the last, winning basket of the game, to know you
had won, to know you had overcome your opponent.
Larry kept a poster of his favorite player by his bed. It was a reminder of some of the things that
it takes to win. Do you have a poster of your favorite player? How could you get one to serve as a re-
minder for you?
STORY 83
BEATING A BULLYTherapeutic Characteristics
Problems Addressed
■ Being a bully
■ Fear
■ Intimidation
■ Lack of strength196 Healing Stories, Teaching Stories