# 49

"If there is a truer measure of a man than by what he does, it must be by what he gives." Robert South

Twenty-two years ago, two special men got together with an idea. The idea was to run a new type of sports camps for athletes. This camp would combine everything the traditional camp did with a unique mental training program. Three times a day the young athletes, both male and female, would meet for these training sessions. Sessions include visualization, relaxation, goal setting, self image, and positive reinforcement. Thousands of campers have come to this special camp over the years. Many have gone on to play college basketball. But the real story is how many this camp has helped to become doctors, lawyers, accountants, teachers, and so on. The name of the camp is the "Yes I Can" Basketball Camp. Special thanks to "Slay", Ron Slaymaker (former Head Basketball Coach, Emporia State University) and "Uncle Stan", Stan Kellner (developer of the "Yes I Can" concept, author, and former coach) for taking a chance with this camp and helping all those young people become the best they can be.

"You cannot live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you." John Wooden

Rocks, Pebbles, and Sand

A philosophy professor stood before his class and had some items in front of him. When class began, he picked up a large, empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with rocks right to the top. The rocks were about 2" in diameter. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.

So the professor then picked up a box of pebbles and slowly poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles, of course, rolled into the open areas between the rocks. The students laughed. He asked his students again if the jar was full. They agreed that yes, it was full.

The professor then picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else.

"Now," said the professor, "I want you to recognize that this is your life. The rocks are the important things--your family, your partner, your health, and your children--anything that is so important to you that if it is lost, you would be nearly destroyed. The pebbles are the other things in life that matter, but on a smaller scale. The pebbles represent things like your job, house, or car. The sand is everything else, the small stuff."

"If you put the rocks or the pebbles into the jar first, there is no room for the rocks. The same goes for your life. If you spend all your energy and time on the small stuff, material things, you will never have room for the things that are truly most important."

Pay attention to the things that are critical in your life
Play with your children
Take time to get medical check-ups
Take your partner out dancing

There will always be time to go to work, clean the house, give a dinner party, and fix the disposal. Take care of the rocks first--the things that really matter. Set your priorities, the rest is just pebbles and sand.

The Fourth of July is just ahead. Isn't it interesting that a week before celebrating the birth of our nation that the 9th Circuit Court in California ruled that the Pledge of Allegiance is unconstitutional. They seem to forget that 12 of the original colonies were founded by groups seeking freedom from religious oppression. They forget that our "second" National Anthem is God Bless America . And they forget when they took the oath of office; they closed with the words "so help me God." Have a safe and enjoyable holiday.

GOD BLESS AMERICA !

Contact Tom at: tomhughes@motivationNmore.com

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