At his Restoring Honor rally at the Lincoln Memorial yesterday, Glenn Beck said, “America today begins to turn back to God.” That scares me. It’s because people who say America should “turn back to God” usually don’t like the way I turn to God. Read the rest of this entry »
Choose to be Great
Aug 23
As I was going through some old files, I found the following that I wrote for my daughter as she entered sixth grade. With school starting, I’d like to share this with all of you. It’s called “Choose to be Great.” Read the rest of this entry »
What’s next
Jul 27
The end of my term as league president is now just a few days away. I’d like to share what I plan to do next. (It’s also a good way to keep me committed.)
- Get myself into shape. One irony is that while I’ve been promoting Little League as a way for kids to get fit, I’ve been neglecting my own physical fitness. I’m not planning to do anything drastic or outrageous. Just eating better, cutting back on fast food and snacks, and exercising more.
- Spend more time with my family. Another irony is that Little League is supposed to give families time to spend together, but I’ve had to spend time away from mine to help our league. With our daughter a high school senior and our son starting middle school, it’s especially important for us to spend time together. We’re planning to have some rest and relaxation before school starts.
- Get caught up on repairs, paperwork cleanup, and all other household tasks I’ve been putting off or trying to fit into my Little League schedule.
- Start writing again.
While I value the experience of being a league president and take some good memories, I’m ready to move on to what’s next in my life.
“For Good”
Jul 20
They say there’s no crying in baseball, but this is the sport of Lou Gehrig’s farewell speech and Field of Dreams. We don’t like cheesy sentiment or flowery expressions of emotion, yet we dance around the field and hug each other in victory, or weep in the dugout and slam locker room doors in defeat.
So, how do I say goodbye to something I’ve devoted my time, energy, and passion to for the last two years? Read the rest of this entry »
Are superior athletes born that way? Or can people become superior athletes through hard work?
Bounce: Mozart, Federer, Picasso, Beckham, and the Science of Success by Matthew Syed, champion table tennis player and commentator for the BBC, argues the latter. He says that athletes are made, not born. Through purposeful practice, athletes can master skills to the point they are automatic, just as using a pencil or driving a car. As part of this learning, athletes must be willing to embrace mistakes, and coaches must recognize players for their effort and progress, not what talent they perceive the player as having. The same approach can also be used to produce superior artists, executives, and professionals. Read the rest of this entry »
