THE POINT AFTER: How One Resilient Kicker Learned There Was More to Life than the NFL by Sean Conley
A vivid account of life in the NFL—and an inspiring story of everything that comes after.
Against seemingly impossible odds, Sean Conley became the starting kicker for the University of Pittsburgh in his senior year. A year later, he suited up for the Detroit Lions. But when he joined the New York Jets soon after, Conley’s injuries caught up to him, and his lifelong dream came crashing down in a crisis of denial and fear.
,br>The Point After is an all-access look at the NFL, one of the most intense workplaces in sports. Conley describes pushing through pain at NFL training camps, surrounded by rookies, All-Pro veterans, and long-shot undrafted free agents, all hell-bent on staying in the game. He recounts the insecurities he dealt with on and off the field, and the despair that overtook him when his career ended.
But while Conley thought life was over, it was just beginning. Transcending football, this is the story of an ex–football player who discovered the true meaning of sports and life, and found happiness in the most unexpected way. Embodying the spirit of the underdog, this is a moving tale of strength, determination, and spiritual grit.
Published: July 2020
Sean Conley tells us what inspired him to write this story.Most athletes are perfectionists. This has helped them go very far in their sport. It helps them achieve goals, accomplishments, etc. However, sometimes when things don’t go the way they want them to, it can result in feelings of stress and failure. Mental health is rarely talked about with athletes as some perceive it as weakness.
I wanted to share my story that included insecurities, ups, downs, and the physical and mental toll that it had on my body and mind. I discovered that incorporating mindfulness such as yoga and meditation could help me deal with the regret and other emotional challenges that I had as an athlete and then a former athlete. My hope was that my story could inspire and help other athletes, parents of athletes, and anyone who is looking to live a healthier and happier life.
A native of Erie, Pennsylvania, Sean Conley fell in love with kicking at age eight. After playing college football at the University of Pittsburgh, he began a dramatic, abbreviated career in professional football, playing for the Detroit Lions, Indianapolis Colts, New York Jets, and finally for the Scottish Claymores in Europe.
That journey came with a price. As a result of overtraining, Sean suffered career-ending injuries. As part of his rehabilitation and regrouping, Sean became a dedicated yoga practitioner at the suggestion of his wife, Karen, a yoga instructor. He eventually embraced the mindfulness, meditation, and philosophy of yoga as a new life direction, and became a yoga teacher himself. He and his wife now own Amazing Yoga in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with three locations. Sean is the author of The Point After (Lyons Press, 2020) and Amazing Yoga (Autumn House Press, 2010) and lives in Pittsburgh with Karen and their four children.
Learn more about Sean on his website: http://www.seanconley.net/
The post THE POINT AFTER: How One Resilient Kicker Learned There Was More to Life than the NFL by Sean Conley appeared first on Quiet Fury Books.
