As we usher in a new year, there’s no better way to inspire the journey ahead than with wisdom from Coach Teresa Weatherspoon.
This basketball legend and gifted storyteller shared a powerful metaphor during her 2019 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame enshrinement speech: “The Story of the Deaf Frog.”
It’s a lesson in resilience, self-belief, and the unshakable power of tuning out negativity—a message that resonates deeply with the spirit of Black women everywhere.
Weatherspoon began by humorously acknowledging her storytelling prowess, crediting her mother’s faith in her gift. Her tale, though simple on the surface, carries profound meaning.
It begins with three frogs trapped in a deep, dark hole—a metaphor for life’s challenges and setbacks.
As the frogs attempted to jump out, voices from above rained down discouragement: “You can’t do it.” “You’re not worthy.” One by one, two frogs succumbed to the weight of those words, losing their will to continue.
But the third frog kept jumping. The naysayers grew louder, more insistent, but the little frog pressed on, eventually leaping to freedom. The twist? That frog was deaf. It couldn’t hear the negativity and instead focused solely on its goal.
For Weatherspoon, this story is personal. She likened herself to that deaf frog, rising above doubt and detractors to achieve greatness. Her message is clear: “Turn deaf ears to what people say that you cannot do. Know your worth, know your value.”
This is the energy we need to channel in 2025. Life’s obstacles will test us, but like that determined frog—and like Coach Weatherspoon—we must leap forward, undeterred.
To the Black women who fight daily battles with grace and strength: this is your year to rise above the noise, defy expectations, and reach new heights.
Let this story remind us all that our worth is non-negotiable, our dreams are valid, and our resilience is unmatched.
