The Rhythm of Repetition: 100 Free Throws

Yesterday, I made 100 free throws in a row—for the first time ever. I don't know that I've ever made even 50 in a row.

It wasn’t flashy. There was no crowd, no scoreboard, no game on the line. Just me, a ball, a hoop, and the quiet rhythm of repetition.

Basketball was my escape route that I went down day after day growing up. As an adult, I still find that there are very few times I am more at peace than with a basketball in my hands—it just happens a whole lot less frequently these days as I balance professional, personal, and community.

So naturally, with a night to myself, I picked up my basketball. To get my mind right, I always begin with form shooting and eventually work my way to the free throw line to warm up my body and mind.

There’s something deeply grounding about doing the same thing over and over again. In a world that constantly pushes us toward novelty and speed, repetition offers something rare: stability. It’s in the repetition that we refine. It’s in the repetition that we build confidence. And sometimes, it’s in the repetition that we find peace.

Each shot yesterday wasn’t perfect. But each one taught me something—about my form, my focus, my breath. And eventually, they added up to 100, and beyond.

Repetition doesn’t just build skill. It builds trust—in the process, in your body, in your mind. There’s comfort in knowing that if you keep showing up, something good will come of it.

So here’s to the quiet victories. The ones that come not from a single moment of brilliance, but from the steady, deliberate act of doing the work—again and again.

What’s your version of the free throw line? What’s the simple, repeatable thing that brings you peace, clarity, or growth? I’d love to hear about it—drop a comment or share your own story.

The most boring four-minute video (16-minute before 4x speed!)