j . a . m . k . m . b: Some cool quotes from John Wooden

Pres. Thomas S. Monson, Oct 2008

"This is our one and only chance at mortal life—here and now. The longer we live, the greater is our realization that it is brief. Opportunities come, and then they are gone. I believe that among the greatest lessons we are to learn in this short sojourn upon the earth are lessons that help us distinguish between what is important and what is not. I plead with you not to let those most important things pass you by as you plan for that illusive and non-existent future when you will have time to do all that you want to do. Instead, find joy in the journey—now.

... Professor Harold Hill, one of the principal characters in [The Music Man], voices a caution that I share with you. Says he, “You pile up enough tomorrows, and you’ll find you’ve collected a lot of empty yesterdays.”

f you have children who are grown and gone, in all likelihood you have occasionally felt pangs of loss and the recognition that you didn’t appreciate that time of life as much as you should have. Of course, there is no going back, but only forward. Rather than dwelling on the past, we should make the most of today, of the here and now, doing all we can to provide pleasant memories for the future.

Stresses in our lives come regardless of our circumstances. We must deal with them the best we can. But we should not let them get in the way of what is most important—and what is most important almost always involves the people around us. Often we assume that they must know how much we love them. But we should never assume; we should let them know. Wrote William Shakespeare, “They do not love that do not show their love.”³ We will never regret the kind words spoken or the affection shown. Rather, our regrets will come if such things are omitted from our relationships with those who mean the most to us.

Send that note to the friend you’ve been neglecting; give your child a hug; give your parents a hug; say “I love you” more; always express your thanks. Never let a problem to be solved become more important than a person to be loved. Friends move away, children grow up, loved ones pass on. It’s so easy to take others for granted, until that day when they’re gone from our lives and we are left with feelings of “what if” and “if only.” Said author Harriet Beecher Stowe, “The bitterest tears shed over graves are for words left unsaid and deeds left undone.”

In the 1960s, during the Vietnam War, Church member Jay Hess, an airman, was shot down over North Vietnam. For two years his family had no idea whether he was dead or alive. His captors in Hanoi eventually allowed him to write home but limited his message to less than 25 words. What would you and I say to our families if we were in the same situation—not having seen them for over two years and not knowing if we would ever see them again? Wanting to provide something his family could recognize as having come from him and also wanting to give them valuable counsel, Brother Hess wrote—and I quote: “These things are important: temple marriage, mission, college. Press on, set goals, write history, take pictures twice a year.”

Said one well-known author: “Both abundance and lack [of abundance] exist simultaneously in our lives, as parallel realities. It is always our conscious choice which secret garden we will tend . . . when we choose not to focus on what is missing from our lives but are grateful for the abundance that’s present—love, health, family, friends, work, the joys of nature, and personal pursuits that bring us [happiness]—the wasteland of illusion falls away and we experience heaven on earth.”

Said the Lord in a revelation given through the Prophet Joseph Smith, “In nothing doth man offend God, or against none is his wrath kindled, save those who confess not his hand in all things.”¹⁰ May we be found among those who give our thanks to our Heavenly Father. If ingratitude be numbered among the serious sins, then gratitude takes its place among the noblest of virtues.

Brothers and sisters, my sincere prayer is that we may adapt to the changes in our lives, that we may realize what is most important, that we may express our gratitude always and thus find joy in the journey."

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Some cool quotes from John Wooden

John Wooden was the legendary coach of the UCLA Bruins during their unmatched championship dynasty in US college basketball. He was also widely respected as a humble, honorable, decent man. A friend shared some of his quotes recently and I thought I'd pass them along.

"The best thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother."

“It is amazing how much can be accomplished if no one cares who gets the credit.”

"Winning takes talent, to repeat takes character."

"Listen if you want to be heard."

“Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are.”

"You can't let praise or criticism get to you. It's a weakness to get caught up in either one."

“Never make excuses. Your friends don’t need them and your foes won’t believe them.”

"The main ingredient of stardom is the rest of the team."

"A man may make mistakes, but he isn't a failure until he starts blaming someone else."

"Some criticism will be honest, some won't. Some praise you will deserve, some you won't. You can't let praise or criticism get to you. It's a weakness to get caught up in either one."

“If you get yourself too engrossed in things over which you have no control, it will adversely affect the things over which you do have control.”

"A strong leader accepts blame and gives the credit. A weak leader gives blame and accepts the credit."

"The star of every successful team is the team."

"Peaks and valleys belong in the Alps, not in the temperament - the emotions - of a leader."

"Be prepared and be honest."

"Consider the rights of others before your own feelings, and the feelings of others before your own rights."

"Don't measure yourself by what you have accomplished, but by what you should have accomplished with your ability."

"If you're not making mistakes, then you're not doing anything. I'm positive that a doer makes mistakes."

"It's the little details that are vital. Little things make big things happen."

"Never mistake activity for achievement."

"The worst thing about new books is that they keep us from reading the old ones."

"Tell the truth. That way you don't have to remember a story."

"Don't let making a living prevent you from making a life."

"A coach is someone who can give correction without causing resentment."

"Five years from now, you’re the same person except for the people you’ve met and the books you’ve read."

"Talent is God-given. Be humble.
Fame is man-given. Be grateful.
Conceit is self-given. Be careful.”

"You can't live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you."

j . a . m . k . m . b

Pres. Thomas S. Monson, Oct 2008

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Some cool quotes from John Wooden

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