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HERD Building/Blocks
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INTRO to "BUILDING BLOCKS"
Initially seeming philosophical or sometimes idealistic, you will actually find these periodic entries to be worth the time for a slower, more thoughtful, second reading. Why not discuss some of the content with your family, teachers, coaches, or even your team mates and friends? It is suggested that you consider the content thoroughly as these are key times for your formative thinking and developing beliefs.
And most importantly...almost everything stated here is doable or attainable NOW!!
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"THE VALUE OF TIME"
When we wake up in the morning, we have two choices:
Go back to sleep and dream....or we wake up and chase those dreams.
The choice is yours!
When you keep saying you are busy....then you are never free!
When you keep saying you have no time....then you will never have time!
When you keep saying that you will do it tomorrow....then your tomorrow will never come!
With so many important issues about environmental matters these days (and rightly so) its also wise to remember that...one thing you definitely cannot recycle is wasted time.
Time is like a river!
You cannot touch the same water twice, because the flow that has passed will never pass again.
Appreciate and cherish every moment!
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"COMMUNITY SERVICE"
Somewhere! Somehow! Sometime!
YOU CAN HELP!!!
"You'll stand taller after bending to help someone younger!"
"Running errands for someone less able doesn't require a track star!"
"Feel like a real speedster when you occasionally slow down to assist someone in need!"
"Ever helped in a food drive for the local foodbank?"
"You don't have to be a professional landscaper to help a neighbour pull some weeds!"
"Have you participated in a good cause walkathon fundraiser?"
"Carrying parcels for someone in need is not such a heavy load!"
"Ever ask permission to visit a Seniors Home with your family pet?"
"You don't have to possess a medical diploma to volunteer some time to your local hospital!"
"Snowbound Senior Citizens sure appreciate the sight of a healthy youth with a shovel!"
"Have you thought about offering some volunteer hours to the Community Centre or Senior's Home in your neighbourhood?"
Community Service of any kind is Good Citizenship
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"MEASURING SUCCESS"
"Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles overcome while trying to succeed" - American educator and activist Booker T. Washington (1856-1915)
"The most important thing in life is not to capitalize on your successes any fool can do that. The really important thing is to profit from your mistakes" - Author William Bolitho
"The price of success is hard work, dedication to the job at hand, and the determination that whether we win or lose, we have applied the best of ourselves to the task at hand" - Football coaching legend Vince Lombardi (1913-1970)
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"GETTING AHEAD"
"Getting Ahead" certainly does not mean boldly stepping in front of people...nor stepping on people, in the process of "getting ahead". You will surely find that any type of advancement is much more fulfilling and honourable...when it is primarily based on personal merit, dedicated effort, and earned opportunity. It's not a perfect world and sometimes all things don't always appear to be fair from an individual perspective. However, one doesn't need to be rude, ignorant, conniving, nor obnoxious, as they strive to "get ahead". Friends, team mates, work colleagues, etc., will undoubtedly be more respectful of honest endeavour and deserved reward. Everything considered...it's a great feeling' of accomplishment when a person's honest effort is respected with genuine recognition. And in the process, these honourable endeavours and earned results will also provide some self-esteem and self-respect.
Remember this...
As steep a climb as it may first seem,
you can ALWAYS hold your head high on the High Road.
Interestingly...it also seems from a High Road perspective,
that the air is fresher and the view is improved too!
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"HERD ROOKIE MANTRA"
You no longer are a spectator
You now are a participant!!
You no longer are a spectator
You now are a participant!!
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"GIVING RESPECT EARNS RESPECT"
Respect is about showing tolerance, acceptance and common decency towards the people around us – our family, friends and peers, people who are older or younger than us, people from different walks of life or who follow different cultures or religions. Also persons who may be economically less fortunate, and those physically or mentally challenged. Respect is also about being considerate of the consequences of our behaviour for others.
As athletic participants...always respect your opponents, the game officials & administrators, the spectators, your teammates & coaches...and yourself. And don't forget to fundamentally respect the sport itself. In most organized sports, an individual's disrespectful actions will likely cause reactions of discipline.
For most of us...common decency and civility toward others is fairly automatic and essentially ingrained in the habits of our everyday lives. But, without question...when respect for self, others and the community breaks down, anti-social behaviour can take hold. Be assured..when this happens, there is a cost to our society and way of life. On a positive note, there are caring persons who well-demonstrate their respect, human kindness, and good citizenship, by a commitment to volunteerism and some form of community service.
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"TENACITY"
Persistence in maintaining...or adhering to something valued. Tenacity is certainly NOT about giving up. Interesting to note some other words that begin with the letter "T"...just like the word 'tenacity'; tough, tiger, taurus, task, tireless, trek, toil, travail, tensile...plus triumph & triumphant.
"You are never a loser until you quit trying" - (Mike Ditka, NFL Player, Coach, Broadcaster)
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"STAYING FOCUSSED"
Being attentive and staying focussed are extremely important attributes...both in football and daily life. Nor can a person be absorbing information or learning much themselves when they're busy being disruptive to others.
"Football is a game played with arms, legs and shoulders..but mostly from the neck up" - (Historic Notre Dame Coach Knute Rockne)
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"LOMBARDI on LIFESKILLS"
"Football is a great deal like life in that it teaches that work, sacrifice, perseverance, competitive drive, selflessness and respect for authority is the price that each and every one of us must pay to achieve any goal that is worthwhile" - (Football Legend Vince Lombardi)
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"COMMITMENT"
Regardless of their chosen field of endeavour....the quality of a person's life is in direct proportion to their degree of commitment and the resulting degree of respect earned for honouring this commitment.
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"PERSERVERANCE"
Those individuals who won't accept the word 'QUIT' are those same individuals who truly believe that so-called 'IMPOSSIBLE' dreams can come true. These are also the same individuals who realize that life's battles don't always go to the strongest or fastest....but often to those who refuse to quit and continue to fight on toward their goal.
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"DETERMINATION"
Reaching your goal requires a firm purpose and a strong resolve..with the goal always in sight.
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"DISCIPLINE"
Discipline is what you do when no one is looking! It's being considerate of the other person. Having good personal habits -- you are polite, on time, taking care of business with pride. We must be disciplined as individuals first, and than as a team.
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"CHANGE"
When you change your thinking,
You change your beliefs;
When you change your beliefs,
You change your expectations;
When you change your expectations,
You change your attitude;
When you change your attitude,
You change your behaviour;
When you change your behaviour,
You change your performance;
When you change your performance,
YOU CHANGE YOUR LIFE !!!
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"PEBBLES on the PATH"
Many so-called problems are most likely only pebbles in your way.
Larger pebbles can be opportunities when used as stepping stones.
Successfully navigating these stepping stones can lead to the creation of building blocks of values and character.
And well-made building blocks contribute to solid foundations!
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