Monday, June 10, 2024 Pawn Star Proverbs (Part 2 of 4) Even layups are points! Blogs Newsletters National By Quentin Steen, Representative/BC Member Education Coordinator I’m a recreational golfer. It’s something that I stumbled upon through a friend. Golf is one of those sports that I enjoy but also find highly frustrating. When I improve in one part of my game (e.g., my drive), another falls apart (e.g., my putting or short game). But there’s a bigger problem, and it has nothing to do with the game but with my overinflated skills and expectations. Par has always been an elusive goal for me. For some reason, I believe that I should be a scratch golfer. Unfortunately, I highly overestimate my skills. The simple fact is that I don’t have the time, money, or focus to be a scratch golfer. At some point, it dawned on me that par was for those considered semiprofessional and not for recreational golfers like me, who only play a few rounds a season. When I accepted that fact, enjoying the game and celebrating the occasional par (and the rare birdie or eagle) was much easier when the stars lined up for me. My improvements were incremental at best, but they were improvements. A similar notion crossed my path while watching a recent episode of Pawn Stars. For those who haven’t seen the show, Pawn Stars is an American reality television series shown on History channel and produced by Leftfield Pictures. The series is filmed in Las Vegas where it chronicles the daily activities at the world-famous Gold & Silver Pawn Shop. This 24-hour family business opened in 1989 and was originally operated by patriarch Richard “Old Man” Harrison, his son Rick Harrison, Rick’s son Corey “Big Hoss” Harrison, and Corey’s childhood friend, Austin “Chumlee” Russell. The series, which became the network’s highest-rated show, and the number two reality show behind Jersey Shore, debuted on July 26, 2009. The series depicts the staff’s interactions with customers, who bring in a variety of artifacts to sell or pawn. They’re shown haggling over the price and discussing the item’s historical background. Narration is provided by either the Harrisons or Chumlee. In this specific episode, a client visits the store to sell a basketball used in the NWBA in the July 1999 inaugural all-star game at Madison Square Gardens in New York. The ball was signed by all 23 players (10 of which are in the NWBA hall of fame) and 4 coaches. Unfortunately, the customer didn’t get what she wanted because she overestimated its value. Still, she could sell it for a profit after being authenticated by a sports paraphernalia expert. After the deal was secured with a handshake, the camera panned over to her. What she said was something I think about all the time as an instructor of mental health and someone who has had a long journey with his own mental health (as I’ve expressed numerous times in previous Monthly Mental Health Moments). It’s something we could all be mindful of and all keep in mind when we work at improving our state of mental well-being. She said, “I was going for a three-pointer, but I got a layup. It’s okay. . . .” Like my golf game, I can’t always shoot the three, or drain the birdie, in my mental health journey. But every layup and bogey counts. In fact, most of us live daily, running down the courts of our mental well-being, slowly winning the game with layups. Even layups are points. And every point counts! Next Month’s Pawn Star Proverb: It was just an Illusion! Quentin Steen is a certified mental health first aid instructor for the Mental Health Commission of Canada. Get your BRAIN right and your MIND will follow! 3 Mental Health Resources to Help You If you or someone you know is struggling with a mental health issue, CLAC has a number of resources and interactive tools available to help you at My Health and Wellness. Stronger Minds features videos and quick reads from mental health experts, activities to help you gain resilience, and ask-an-expert videos in response to questions. Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) provides accessible, reliable, and professionally produced resources on an array of health topics including (but not limited to): addictions, anxiety, post-traumatic stress, depression, etc. You might be interested in Why We Work Safely 5 Jun 2026 Standing Your Ground, and Staying Steady on the Job 4 Jun 2026 CLAC Partners with Alberta Government to Advance Skilled Trades Training and Accelerate Certification 4 Jun 2026 Strathcona Mechanical Workers Ratify New Agreement Providing Wage, Scheduling Improvements 3 Jun 2026