“A life isn’t significant except for its impact on other lives.” (Jackie Robinson)
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My senior research project was to examine whether John Wooden’s coaching style could work in the current landscape of college men’s basketball. I made appointments to meet six different head coaches at their office for a 30-minute interview.
Every coach gave me some great insights and I received an “A” on the project.
Other than Coach Wooden calling me on my dorm room phone (but that’s another story for another day), the thing that stands out to me the most about the project was one particular coach and how he treated me.
Each coach was friendly but only one coach truly made me feel welcome.
Dan Peters was the head coach at Youngstown State University.
When I came into his office, Coach Peters came out from his desk and greeted me. He had a couple of sofas in the corner and invited me to sit there.
He then got up and asked me what I wanted to drink so Coach Peters and I drank pop together while we talked. By the way, pop is soda or Coke for you people not from the Midwest.
He also insisted that I take off my coat and make myself comfortable. Realize that these interviews took place during Ohio’s snowy months. That Coach Peters interview was the only meeting of the six that I removed my winter coat.
All these years later, I couldn’t tell you a single thing Dan Peters told me about Coaching that day.
But I remember how he made me feel.
We have hundreds or even thousands of interactions each week. No matter how long or short those are, we have the opportunity to bring a little ray of sunshine to someone’s life. We don’t have to change their life but we can be the reason that they smile or show them that there is goodness in the world.
When we value and help others – even if they can’t do something for us or even if they disagree with us, then that is when we are truly living our best lives. That is when we are living a life that matters.