JOHN WOODEN: VALUES, VICTORIES AND PEACE OF MIND


Wooden shares some of his life stories and discusses his pyramid of success.

You can't play in dirt and not get dirty.

Rather than the rungs of a ladder, Wooden thought a pyramid was a better model.

The cornerstones of the pyramid are industriousness and enthusiasm.

Industriousness - There is no substitution for hard work.
Enthusiasm - If you don't like what you're doing, you'll never get to your highest level of competency.

Passion is temporary. Love is enduring.
"A bell's not a bell 'til you ring it, A song's not a song 'til you sing it, Love in your heart wasn't put there to stay, Love isn't love 'til you give it away!"
- Oscar Hammerstein Ii

The three foundations of the pyramid are friendship, loyalty and cooperation.

Friendship - Both parties must work to maintain the friendship, not just one side.

Loyalty - The center block, one must have someone or something they are loyal to in order to reach your particular level of competency. Ultimately means being true to what you feel in your heart is right, even if it challenges something you always believed in.

It is the things we learn after we know it all that really count in our lives. Those lessons in life are truly the greatest ones.

Cooperation - As the world gets smaller through technology, it becomes more difficult to get cooperation.

Wooden's father gave him a little card that contained a seven-point creed:

• Be true to yourself
• Help others
• Make friendship a fine art
• Make each day your masterpiece
• Drink deeply from good books
• Build a shelter against a rainy day
• Give thanks for your blessings
• Pray for guidance every day

He also had two sets of threes:

• Don't lie
• Don't cheat
• Don't steal

• Don't whine
• Don't complain
• Don't make excuses, just do the best you can

Self-Control - Don't lose your temper.

Initiative - Don't be afraid to fail. The greatest failure of all is the failure to act when action is needed.

Alertness - We can always learn just by being alert to what you can learn.

Intentness - Determination, persistence, perseverance. Be intent on reaching a realistic goal. Don't make goals that are so difficult they are unattainable. On the other hand, don't make goals that are too easy.

The next level is the heart of the pyramid. Condition, skill and team spirit.

Condition - There are different types of condition, but you can not attain and maintain your desired physical condition unless it's preceded by mental and moral condition.

Skill - You need to know, have to be able to do it and do it quickly.

Team Spirit - This is simply consideration for others. It's an eagerness to lose oneself in the group for the welfare of the group. Happiness begins when selfishness ends.

Above the heart are poise and confidence.

Confidence - You can't do anything unless you believe in yourself. You can't have confidence unless you are prepared. Failure to prepare is preparing to fail.

Poise - Just being yourself is all poise is. You're not acting, not pretending, you're just being yourself.

The last block is competitive greatness.

Competitive greatness - It is the ability to function the best when it is needed the most.

You must have patience and faith to reach the apex of success. Good things take time.

ULTRAMIND SOLUTION WITH DR. HYMAN

Dr. Hyman describes 7 biological systems that are responsible for pretty much all diseases and sicknesses.

7 Keys to an UltraMind

Key 1 - Optimize Nutrition
Key 2 - Balance Hormones
Key 3 - Cool Inflammation
Key 4 - Fix Digestive System
Key 5 - Enhance Detoxification System
Key 6 - Boost Energy Metabolism
Key 7 - Calm Your Mind


The Four Steps

Step 1 - Eat right for your brain
Step 2 - Tune-up your brain chemistry with supplements
Step 3 - Start the UltraMind lifestyle
Step 4 - Live clean and green

LA STREET FOOD FESTIVAL

Man, I wish I could have gone to this today.
lastreetfoodfest.com/

SULLIVAN BALOU

Just watched the old Civil War series that ran on PBS in 1990. I never really paid much attention to it then, but 20 years will certainly change one's view of life. There was a segment on Sullivan Ballou and the incredibly elegant letter he wrote his wife before the First Battle of Bull Run. He died from the wounds sustained during that battle.



July the 14th, 1861

Washington D.C.

My very dear Sarah:

The indications are very strong that we shall move in a few days—perhaps tomorrow. Lest I should not be able to write you again, I feel impelled to write lines that may fall under your eye when I shall be no more.

Our movement may be one of a few days duration and full of pleasure—and it may be one of severe conflict and death to me. Not my will, but thine O God, be done. If it is necessary that I should fall on the battlefield for my country, I am ready. I have no misgivings about, or lack of confidence in, the cause in which I am engaged, and my courage does not halt or falter. I know how strongly American Civilization now leans upon the triumph of the Government, and how great a debt we owe to those who went before us through the blood and suffering of the Revolution. And I am willing—perfectly willing—to lay down all my joys in this life, to help maintain this Government, and to pay that debt.

But, my dear wife, when I know that with my own joys I lay down nearly all of yours, and replace them in this life with cares and sorrows—when, after having eaten for long years the bitter fruit of orphanage myself, I must offer it as their only sustenance to my dear little children—is it weak or dishonorable, while the banner of my purpose floats calmly and proudly in the breeze, that my unbounded love for you, my darling wife and children, should struggle in fierce, though useless, contest with my love of country?

I cannot describe to you my feelings on this calm summer night, when two thousand men are sleeping around me, many of them enjoying the last, perhaps, before that of death—and I, suspicious that Death is creeping behind me with his fatal dart, am communing with God, my country, and thee.

I have sought most closely and diligently, and often in my breast, for a wrong motive in thus hazarding the happiness of those I loved and I could not find one. A pure love of my country and of the principles have often advocated before the people and "the name of honor that I love more than I fear death" have called upon me, and I have obeyed.

Sarah, my love for you is deathless, it seems to bind me to you with mighty cables that nothing but Omnipotence could break; and yet my love of Country comes over me like a strong wind and bears me irresistibly on with all these chains to the battlefield.

The memories of the blissful moments I have spent with you come creeping over me, and I feel most gratified to God and to you that I have enjoyed them so long. And hard it is for me to give them up and burn to ashes the hopes of future years, when God willing, we might still have lived and loved together and seen our sons grow up to honorable manhood around us. I have, I know, but few and small claims upon Divine Providence, but something whispers to me—perhaps it is the wafted prayer of my little Edgar—that I shall return to my loved ones unharmed. If I do not, my dear Sarah, never forget how much I love you, and when my last breath escapes me on the battlefield, it will whisper your name.

Forgive my many faults, and the many pains I have caused you. How thoughtless and foolish I have often been! How gladly would I wash out with my tears every little spot upon your happiness, and struggle with all the misfortune of this world, to shield you and my children from harm. But I cannot. I must watch you from the spirit land and hover near you, while you buffet the storms with your precious little freight, and wait with sad patience till we meet to part no more.

But, O Sarah! If the dead can come back to this earth and flit unseen around those they loved, I shall always be near you; in the garish day and in the darkest night—amidst your happiest scenes and gloomiest hours—always, always; and if there be a soft breeze upon your cheek, it shall be my breath; or the cool air fans your throbbing temple, it shall be my spirit passing by.

Sarah, do not mourn me dead; think I am gone and wait for thee, for we shall meet again.

As for my little boys, they will grow as I have done, and never know a father's love and care. Little Willie is too young to remember me long, and my blue-eyed Edgar will keep my frolics with him among the dimmest memories of his childhood. Sarah, I have unlimited confidence in your maternal care and your development of their characters. Tell my two mothers his and hers I call God's blessing upon them. O Sarah, I wait for you there! Come to me, and lead thither my children.

Sullivan

JAMES FUCKIN' CAMERON

Linda Hamilton in an interview describes what Cameron, her ex-husband, used to say to her.

On Cameron's epic directorial ambitions: "Jimbo had a love of fast cars, but as the warrior bride I was on the back of a motorcycle. He used to say to me: 'Anybody can be a father or a husband. There are only five people in the world who can do what I do, and I'm going for that.'"

CALCULATING THE PERFECT ASS

Yes, I watch Manswers. So what? It doesn't mean I'm stupid, or that I'm a perv, it just means I'm immature and like juvenile things. Anyway, here's the formula for the perfect ass.

(S+C) x (B+F)
____________ - V
T

S: shape
C: circularity
B: bounce
F: firmness
T: texture
V: vertical ratio

The perfect ass comes in with a score of 80.