Wednesday, November 27, 2013

"Give Thanks for Your Blessings" and More Wise Words from...a Basketball Coach!

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.

-Coach John Wooden

John Robert Wooden (Oct. 14, 1910 - June 4, 2010) was an American basketball player and coach. Nicknamed the "Wizard of Westwood", he won ten NCAA national championships in a 12-year period — seven in a row — as head coach at UCLA, an unprecedented feat.

Wooden remained devoted to his wife Nellie until his own death decades after hers. He kept to a monthly ritual — health permitting — on the 21st of every month, when he would visit her grave then write a love letter to her. After completing each letter, he placed it in an envelope and added it to a stack of similar letters that accumulated over the years on the pillow she slept on during their life together. Wooden only stopped writing the letters in the last months of his life due to failing eyesight.

Did you know Coach Wooden wrote a book for children?
  source

The book is titled Inch and Miles: The Journey to Success. 
An inchworm and a mouse collaborate on building a pyramid to success, helped along by their teacher - an owl named "Mr. Wooden".

Happy Thanksgiving to all my readers.  I'd like to say "thank you" to my son, Jon, who first introduced me to John Wooden and his inspirational life (and wonderful quotes).  

And speaking of givingRemember to leave a comment up through December 5th to enter my Book & Cookie GIVEAWAY for St. Nicholas Day (go here for details). updated 12/6: Giveaway OVER
    

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