Wooden's Wisdom | Leadership Resource Center

Issue 123 - Revenge is the Weak Pleasure of a Little and Narrow Mind


Wooden's Wisdom - Volume 3	Issue 123
Craig Impelman Speaking \| Championship Coaches \| Champion's Leadership Library Login
REVENGE IS THE WEAK PLEASURE OF A LITTLE AND NARROW MIND This favorite quote of Coach Wooden’s is attributed to Decimus Iunius Iuvenalis, known in English as Juvenal, a Roman poet active in the late1st and early 2nd century AD, and author of the Satires. Juvenal had an additional thought on the same subject: Revenge is sweet, sweeter than life itself - so say fools. There are many great thoughts on this topic. Here are a few: Where there is hatred, let me sow love; Where there is injury, pardon….. For it is in giving that we receive; It is in pardoning that we are pardoned. - St Francis of Assisi To be wronged is nothing unless you continue to remember it. - Confucius Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned. - Buddha In his book There's a Spiritual Solution to Every Problem, Wayne Dyer shared the following: There is a story concerning the Buddha, who is in the company of a fellow traveler who tests this great teacher with derogatory, insulting, disparaging and bitter responses to anything the Buddha says. Every day, for three days, when the Buddha spoke, the traveler responded by calling him a fool, and ridiculing the Buddha in some arrogant fashion. Finally, at the end of the third day, the traveler could stand it no more. He asked, “How is it that you are able to be so loving and kind when all I’ve done for the past three days is dishonor and offend you? Each time I am disobliging to you, you respond in a loving manner. How is this possible?” The Buddha responded with a question of his own for the traveler. “If someone offers you a gift, and you do not accept that gift, to whom does the gift belong?” Coach liked to refer to Mother Teresa and her key idea that forgiveness will set you free. In his book A Game Plan for Life, with Don Yeager, Coach commented on this topic: Holding on to old grudges and nursing wounds we refuse to allow to heal, can keep us locked in the same place. More than once in my life, I found myself wanting to point a finger at my critics and give them a piece of my mind, such as when annoyed fans from other schools would send hateful mail, or when sportswriters would take jabs at UCLA's program - but what would that accomplish? Nothing. It would only give them more reason to dislike me. If you hold a grudge or ill feelings against someone, decide how long you will continue with these feelings. Understand that the amount of time you choose is the amount of time you are allowing yourself to be held back. As Coach liked to say: Time spent getting even would be better spent trying to get ahead. Yours in Coaching, Craig Impelman www.woodenswisdom.com Twitter: @woodenswisdom	COACH'S Favorite Poetry AND PROSE Life's Mirror There are loyal hearts, there are spirits brave, There are souls that are pure and true; Then give to the world the best that you have, And the best will come back to you. Give love, and love to your life will flow, A strength in your utmost need; Have faith, and a score of hearts will show Their faith in your work and deed. Give truth, and your gift will be paid in kind, And honor will honor meet; And the smile which is sweet will surely find A smile that is just as sweet. Give sorrow and pity to those who mourn; You will gather in flowers again The scattered seeds from your thought outborne Though the sowing seemed but vain. For life is the mirror of king and slave, 'Tis just what we are and do; Then give to the world the best that you have And the best will come back to you. Madeline S Bridges
For more information visit www.woodenswisdom.com