Thoughts on John Wooden

Here was a man who never outlived his usefulness. A man who touched so many throughout his life. Reading about him, his teaching methods, and his success as a teacher, coach, mentor, and a man inspires me to get so much more out of myself.

He emphasized playing the right way, giving your best effort no matter the outcome, and living a just and fulfilling life.

Whether I live to be 99, or 49. I’d like to be remembered at least by one person as fondly as everyone who crossed paths with Coach Wooden, remembers him. Sometimes you encounter a piece of literature, music, a film, or a person, and the experience causes you to conclude that you must live your life differently.

John Wooden represents a set of values, and ethic that passed on with him. He was of a different era, and his history was apart of our history as a country. Whenever someone from his era dies, we lose a part of our culture, a link to the old world. Fortunately his values will live on no matter what era we are in.

“Be true to yourself, help others, make each day your masterpiece, make friendship a fine art, drink deeply from good books — especially the Bible — build a shelter against a rainy day, give thanks for your blessings and pray for guidance every day.”

Rest in Peace John Wooden.

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