Wooden's Wisdom | Leadership Resource Center

Issue 256 - Coach Wooden asks, I Wondered Why -


Wooden's Wisdom - Volume 5	Issue 256
Craig Impelman Speaking \| Championship Coaches \| Champion's Leadership Library Login
COACH WOODEN ASKS, I WONDERED WHY - What follows in italics is an excerpt from a very thought provoking article entitled Need One Know Why written by Coach Wooden in 1976 for Medalist Sports Publications. I inserted comments in block lettering. I believe you will really enjoy this and it will lead to some worthwhile reflection. It was a delightful morning, cool and clear, for my daily five-mile walk around the UCLA track. After this sixty-five minute exercise, I relaxed under a cool shower, and then enjoyed a leisurely breakfast before leaving for the Los Angeles international Airport to catch a plane for a trip across this great, wide, beautiful and wonderful country of ours. Coach, rather than sleep in and head for the airport, got up early and went to school to get his workout. He was determined as always to "Make Each Day His Masterpiece". Even though I have flown hundreds of thousands of miles, I never cease to marvel at this jet age in which we now live. How is it possible to place several hundred people in a huge hotel on wheels, take it thousands of feet into the air, and move it several hundred miles an hour under complete control toward another destination? I simply cannot comprehend how such a thing is possible. As I thought about this, and gazed out the window at the beauty of the sea, the mountains and the landscape below, I found myself caught up in a somewhat reflective and wondering mood about many things. Coach takes an airplane trip as an opportunity to put things in perspective and give "thanks for his blessings". I wondered why -- -are there so many who want to build up the weak by tearing down the strong. -is it that many non-attainers are very quick to explain and belittle the attainers. -are there so many who cannot seem to realize that winners are usually the ones who merely execute better, at least on that particular occasion. -is it so difficult to realize that you cannot antagonize and influence at the same time. -is it that we are slow to understand that failing to prepare is preparing to fail. -can't we realize that it only weakens those we want to help when we do things for them that they should do for themselves. -is it so much easier to complain about things we do not have, then to make the most of and appreciate the things we do have. -is it that so often we permit emotion rather than reason to control our decisions. Ask yourself these questions in the first person. You may find something you can improve on. Yours in Coaching, Craig Impelman www.woodenswisdom.com Twitter: @woodenswisdom	COACH'S Favorite Poetry AND PROSE The Sin of Omission It isn't the thing you do, dear, It's the thing you leave undone That gives you a bit of a heartache At setting of the sun. The tender work forgotten, The letter you did not write, The flowers you did not send, dear, Are your haunting ghosts at night. The stone you might have lifted Out of a brother's way; The bit of heartsome counsel You were hurried too much to say; The loving touch of the hand, dear, The gentle, winning tone Which you had no time nor thought for With troubles enough of your own Those little acts of kindness So easily out of mind, Those chances to be angels Which we poor mortals find - They come in night and silence, Each sad, reproachful wraith, When hope is faint and flagging, And a chill has fallen on faith. For life is all too short, dear, And sorrow is all too great, To suffer our slow compassion That tarries until too late: And it isn't the thing you do, dear, It's the thing you leave undone Which gives you a bit of heartache At the setting of the sun. Margaret Elizabeth Sangster
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