John Wooden, affectionately known as Coach, led UCLA to record wins that are still unmatched in the world of basketball. He was the first person to be inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame both as a player and coach, while ESPN ranks him as the greatest coach of all time, across all sports. I rank him first because he wanted his players to be victors in life and not just on the court. He emphasized that winning was more than scoring. To me that is where athletics matter, they teach you how to win in life. Furthermore, Coach Wooden defined personal achievement to knowing that you have done your best and could not have done anything else to achieve your goal.
Football, while difficult for me to thoroughly understand, has a legendary coach that likewise stands out. Coach Lou Holtz’s philosophy “Its not the size of the dog in the fight but the size of the fight in the dog,” was the way he communicated the drive a player needs to win. Coach Lou Holtz, also an inductee to the Hall of Fame and the only college football coach to lead six different programs to bowl games, had a special gift for inspiring players. That is what true leaders do, they inspire.
Personally, an inspiration in my life is running coach Lisa Menninger who is equally impressive as an elite athlete in that she holds numerous records for several distances including Ultra marathon, marathon and 5k. Lisa, a billboard for hard work, is a former Pro duo athlete who understands that fitness impacts one’s life in a profound way. As an athlete she wins. As a coach, Lisa is a champion in that she teaches her students the relationship between fitness, health and wellness and how to attain that optimal combination. The ability to transform a person from average to good or great is really something special. My change and improvement came in the form of track work. I remember the first day I did speed work on the track; I was frightened and intimidated, but through my coach’s experience, motivation and solid understanding of how to coach, I was able to accomplish more than a few milestones in my life. For this reason I am grateful to Lisa, she showed me how to reach and how to work through fear. Lisa taught me how to get the best out of myself, and how to embrace the process, which must be engrossed with commitment. Additionally, I feel privileged to have learned from such a pro! I never thought I could do the work I have done, but as Lisa says, “When the student is ready the teacher will appear.”
Lisa is moving to Utah next week, so I have to begin a new chapter. However, in her absence, I will continue to apply all the essential and wonderful principles that my friend and coach imparted on me these past two years. My wish for you is that when you are ready, your sensei, the one who has gone before you, will appear so that you will discover your authentic self and therefore experience Kefi in the highest form!!!
Kefi truly is a mindset, so set your thoughts to snowy heights, and you will reach the Summit of life when you stop by Kiki’s corner café for your weekly Kefi.
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