I've been around the league for a while. I know the business of

The veteran of the hardwood, Paul Millsap, spoke with the quiet strength of one who has endured many seasons when he said: “I’ve been around the league for a while. I know the business of the league. Some stuff, like my mom said, you let it roll off your back like water on a duck’s back. You keep moving on.” These words are more than the reflections of a basketball player; they are a hymn of endurance, a reminder that in life’s arenas — whether of sport, labor, or love — one must learn to bear slights, disappointments, and hardships without letting them pierce too deeply.

To let things roll off your back like water on a duck’s back is to embrace the ancient art of resilience. The duck swims through rain and storm, yet the water does not sink it, for its feathers are clothed with strength that repels what would otherwise weigh it down. So too must we clothe ourselves in patience, wisdom, and self-control, that the criticisms, betrayals, and disappointments of the world do not drown us. For those who allow every slight to sink deep into their soul will carry burdens too heavy for the journey.

Millsap also speaks of knowing the business of the league. Here lies another layer of wisdom: he recognizes that life itself has its business, its politics, its ways that often seem harsh or unfair. Teams change, loyalties shift, opportunities fade. In such a world, bitterness is a constant temptation. But the one who has learned the rhythm of life’s business understands that change is inevitable, and that survival depends not on clinging to every injustice, but on learning to keep moving forward.

History gives us vivid examples of this truth. Consider the story of Nelson Mandela, who suffered decades in prison under the weight of injustice. He could have let bitterness consume him, carrying every wrong like an iron chain upon his back. Yet he chose to let it roll away, like water on the back of a duck. When he emerged, he bore no hatred, but strength, forgiveness, and vision. In this choice lay his greatness. He kept moving on, and by doing so, he freed not only himself, but his people.

The essence of Millsap’s words is that strength is not found in avoiding hardship, but in not allowing hardship to master you. The athlete cannot control trades, critics, or the ups and downs of the game, but he can control how he responds. The same is true of every soul: we cannot command the storms of life, but we can decide whether to sink beneath them or to rise above, unshaken. The wisdom of his mother, spoken simply, carries the force of ancient teaching — a truth that transcends both court and kingdom.

The lesson, then, is this: do not let the words or actions of others weigh you down more than they must. Do not carry every slight into tomorrow, or you will lose the strength to face tomorrow’s battles. Learn to let go, to let pain and injustice pass over you without burying themselves in your heart. This is not weakness, but true power, for the one who keeps moving forward cannot be chained by the past.

Practical wisdom follows: when you are wronged, pause before reacting. Ask yourself: “Is this worth carrying?” If not, let it roll away, and keep your eyes on what matters most. Practice the discipline of release — in work, in relationships, in life. For every drop of bitterness shed is a burden removed, and every burden removed gives you strength to march further on the road of destiny.

So remember, O listener, the words of Paul Millsap and the wisdom of his mother: “Let it roll off your back like water on a duck’s back. Keep moving on.” Let this be your shield against bitterness, your armor against despair. In this way, you will endure the business of life not as one crushed by its weight, but as one who walks forward in freedom, unshaken, and unbowed.