Words To Live By
Jimmy Valvano was a famous basketball coach, most notably during his years at NC State in the 1980s. Being the occasionally clueless guy that I am when it comes to college basketball, I never heard of him … till today. He was also a broadcaster and motivational speaker during his relatively short life. A friend posted a partial quote on Facebook and I made light of it. She responded diplomatically and posted a link to the speech she was quoting.
It is well worth your time to watch this 10-minute video, even if you have seen it before. He died of bone cancer at the young age of 47, less than a year after the diagnosis, and this speech was delivered as he accepted the first Arthur Ashe Courage and Humanitarian Award about a month before his death. He apparently was an inspiration to the teams he coached but the things he said in this speech are an inspiration to me and others now. These things reinforce some beliefs I hold and often talk about. He sums it up better than I can.
Watch the whole video. This line is my takeaway from it:
There are three things we should do every day … you should laugh every day, you should spend some time in thought every day and have your emotions moved to tears, of happiness or joy. If you laugh, think and cry, that’s a full day, a heck of a day. Do that seven days a week and you’re going to have something special.
It is well worth your time to watch this 10-minute video, even if you have seen it before. He died of bone cancer at the young age of 47, less than a year after the diagnosis, and this speech was delivered as he accepted the first Arthur Ashe Courage and Humanitarian Award about a month before his death. He apparently was an inspiration to the teams he coached but the things he said in this speech are an inspiration to me and others now. These things reinforce some beliefs I hold and often talk about. He sums it up better than I can.
Watch the whole video. This line is my takeaway from it:
There are three things we should do every day … you should laugh every day, you should spend some time in thought every day and have your emotions moved to tears, of happiness or joy. If you laugh, think and cry, that’s a full day, a heck of a day. Do that seven days a week and you’re going to have something special.
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