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Apr 22, 2023·edited Apr 22, 2023Liked by Grace Capobianco

Another excellent piece, Grace. I've written these thoughts on Notes but I'll re-write them here. I learned the hard way myself that if there’s anything taking up so much space in your identity, when for whatever reason it vanishes (and life teaches us that pretty much everything, sooner or later, ends), you feel lost and start questioning who you really are. This may be a job or a strong passion or a sport (as in your story). It’s hard to understand this early on in life, but as time goes by you start noticing that the less you allow into the definition of who you are, the stronger your identity becomes. Sounds paradoxical, but that’s what really happens. As you beautifully say in this piece, you should never lose sight of the fact that you always have a choice. You can choose what to let into your identity, and you can choose how to react when something major disappears from your identity.

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Thank you Silvio ♥️

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As a fellow former basketball player this one hit home. And although Im sure you were a solid player, you were meant to write. So thank you for ending your basketball career to focus on sharing your experience with us instead 😃

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Arman! Thank you 🥹

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I can feel that this was cathartic for you. And just as I started feeling pity, your monologue and resolve taught me better.

I felt this bit: “Coddling myself was causing deep harm. Believing I was a failure was making me one. Thinking I was entitled to something I clearly was not entitled to was only making me bitter.”

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Thank you Camilo! 🤍 Cathartic, for sure. I think Substack is a nice little place for that kind of content.

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“Choice.” “Let your struggle mold you.” Heartfelt vulnerability and perspective Grace.

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Thank you James!!

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