HAPPY “DAY OF APPRECIATION”

2 PARAGRAPHS 4 LIBERTY: 446

So I am breaking my years-long tradition of sending out these 2 Paragraphs messages on Sundays.  Why?  Because, in my view today, Thanksgiving, is one of the year’s most special days.  And the reason is that it is based upon all of us being appreciative of the important things in our lives, such as our family and friends, our health, our opportunities, and living when and where we do plus, especially, our parents, teachers and coaches.  And to focus upon the appreciation of what we have instead of what we do not have is really one of the great secrets of a happy life.  As such I hope you and your family and friends immerse yourselves in appreciation, today and every day.

To help me bring those points home, let me provide some lessons from one of my all-time heroes, UCLA Basketball Coach Johnny Wooden, as contained in his autobiographical book MY PERSONAL BEST: Life Lessons from an All-American Journey (along with Steve Jamison, McGraw-Hill, 2004) which are:

  • Be quick, but don’t hurry.
  • A good teacher or coach must not only understand others, but himself or herself as well.
  • There is a choice you have to make, in everything you do.  So keep in the mind that in the end, the choice you make, makes you.  (Anonymous quote often used by the Coach)
  • Failing to prepare is preparing to fail.
  • Don’t try to be better than somebody else, but never cease trying to be the best you can be. (Quoting his father, Joshua Wooden)
  • Two Sets of Threes also quoted from his father: Never lie, Never cheat, Never steal; and Don’t whine, Don’t complain, Don’t make excuses”
  • Joshua Wooden’s Seven-Point Creed:
    • Be true to yourself.
    • Help others.
    • Make each day your masterpiece.
    • Drink deeply from good books, especially the Bible.
    • Make friendship a fine art.
    • Build a shelter against a rainy day.  And,
    • Pray for guidance, and count and give thanks for your blessings every day.
  • I’m not what I ought to be, Not what I want to be, Not what I’m going to be, But I am thankful that I’m better than I used to be.
  • For when the one Great Scorer Comes to write against your name, He writes not that you won or lost, But how you played the game.
  • Before you can be a good leader, you must be a good follower.
  • Stand up for what you believe – even when you stand alone.
  • You lose, you feel bad – sometimes very, very bad.  But a much worse feeling is knowing you haven’t done everything you possibly could have done to prepare and compete.  And, finally,
  • Goodness gracious, sakes alive!  (The strongest words Johnny Wooden ever used . . .)

There are many more, but I anticipate that you get the idea.  HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

(Quote for the week: “It is not the man who has too little, but the man who craves more that is poor.”     Seneca the Younger)

Judge Jim Gray (Ret.) Superior Court of Orange County, California 2012 Libertarian Candidate for Vice President

Please listen to our radio show entitled All Rise! The Libertarian Way with Judge Jim Gray as we discuss timely issues and show how they will be addressed more beneficially by employing Libertarian values and approaches. The series has concluded, but you can still hear any edition On Demand at https://www.voiceamerica.com/show/3883. And, by the way, these 2 Paragraphs columns are now on my website at www.JudgeJImGray.com, Facebook and LinkedIn at judgejimgray, Twitter at judgejamesgray, and wordpress at judgejimgray.wordpress.com. Please visit these sites for past editions, and do your part to spread the word about the importance of Liberty. In addition, my new book with the same title as my radio show is now available at Amazon.com., as is my wife Grace’s and my new novel centered about School Choice entitled 2030 KIDS: We are the Rising Heroes of the Planet. Please read and discuss them with your friends, and send in a review.