Just thought I would share some of my favorite quotes. It's always nice to find other people who think the same way you do about things.
"People with courage and character always seem sinister to the rest."
- Hermann Hesse (1877 - 1962)
"I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. It's when you know you're licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what."
- Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird, 1960
"To see what is right, and not to do it, is want of courage or of principle."
- Confucius (551 BC - 479 BC)
"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; because there is not effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly. So that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat."
- Theodore Roosevelt, "Man in the Arena" Speech given April 23, 1910
"How little of permanent happiness could belong to a couple who were only brought together because their passions were stronger than their virtue."
- Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice
"I do not want people to be agreeable, as it saves me the trouble of liking them."
- Jane Austen (1775 - 1817)
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Monday, April 5, 2010
The Novel of my Life
disclaimer: I am perfectly aware that there a going to be a million grammatical errors that I won't catch so there is no need to point them out.
Prologue:
I know I am going to hear "I told you so" a million times after this update. I have been forced to face the fact that not everything thing or everyone is against me. I still hold to my pessimistic views, however, lately I have been feeling quite optimistic. It all comes down to that awful principle that when a door closes God opens a window; not getting what you have set your heart on is actually a blessing. Since I have a long commute to school, I have turned my car into my sanctuary. I like to listen to a lot of church material. Not just once through, but the same talks over and over again. I find it very interesting that even though I have listened to something 10 times, I can still get something out of it that I had never heard before. Lately, I have been listening to Hugh B. Brown. He has the most profound analogy that places Heavenly Father as a gardener and his children as the plants. He cuts down a bush that has grown very tall. The bush cry's out bitterly for being cut down after making so much progress,"How could you do it, how could you cut me down? I was doing so well and now I am only a small stub". The gardener replies "Look little bush, I am the gardener here and I know what I want you to be, if I let you grow they way you want to you will never amount to anything, but one day, after you have grown properly and reached your full potential, you will look back and say 'thank you Mr. gardener for cutting me down'". I feel like I can pretty much quote it because I have listened to it so many times. I think that everyone feels like that little bush sometimes. The hardest thing is to be cut down and trust that everything will work out. So for the first time ever, I am in a position where I can finally say thank you gardener for cutting me down. I used to believe that the amount of pain and suffering a person goes through will be equal to the joy they will experience at some point. Unfortunately in my experience, after enduring so much pain for so long and never receiving that compensation of joy, I had lost hope and faith in people. They always talk about doing the right thing, but when it comes down to it, they don't act. But now, I have, for the first time, received a glimmer of hope that there are people out there who can and will do the right thing.
Chapter 1:
I have been working as a coach for the Anderson Mill Swim Club (Torpedoes) for the past year and a half. I love my job and the kids I coach tremendously. I have a passion for coaching and teaching that I never knew existed. Whenever I receive compliments I always say that I learned from the worst, and I have indeed learned from my previous coaches who treated me in the worst possible way. This past year I have dedicated a large amount of time and effort into this team. The head coach was never around and as a result there was no established order. I saw that as an extremely detrimental situation for the kids and decided to take the rains. I brought law and order and built relationships with the kids and parents. I introduced dryland, winter training, goals, and character building concepts and principles that transfer from the swimming to all aspects of life. I gained the respect and trust of the kids and doubled the teams size with in one year. I can't even describe the amount of time drops and success a majority of the kids have experienced. I am so gratified by it.
About a month ago I approached the head coach about the upcoming summer season and coaching with the summer league team (Barracudas). I had been performing all the head coaching duties without a head coaches compensation. I also did not agree in large part with the coaching philosophy she had. I felt that a head coach should be there every day and show they care about every single person on the team. I addressed these and many other issues I had and told her the I would seek other coaching opportunities elsewhere if necessary changes weren't made. Her response made me feel completely dispensable and I was told to go somewhere else. I have never been so angry. I know she knew how much I put into the team and yet I was not as important to her as other coaches I worked with who put forth no effort and yet were paid twice as much. I could only see how once again I was over looked, something that has happened to me again and again. This also happened right after I was rejected by the swim camp. Fortunately, since I always expect the worst, I felt somewhat prepared for all this. Of course it would happen to me, its only natural. So I applied, interviewed, and was offered a position coaching for the Typhoons (another local summer league team). I was excited for the opportunity to work for a coach who had his act together and really wanted me. On my way to the house of one of the board members to sign the contract, I received a call from one of the Torpedo/Barracuda Board members. She said she heard that I was going to coach somewhere else and wanted to know why. I told her about my encounter with the head coach and how I was told to leave. She was surprised and horrified that the head coach did not tell the board anything.
Chapter 2:
Shari, the board member, began to express her apologies for the head coaches actions and asked for me to reconsider signing the contract with the Typhoons so that the Barracudas/Torpedoes could counter offer. I was in a complete shock, but felt it only fair that I let them have a shot since the head coach did not tell them she had told me to leave. This of course only increased my frustration with the head coach. I called the Typhoon board and told them that I would be letting the Barracudas/Torpedoes counter offer. They told me to let them know what they could do to make me reconsider. At this point I had no idea, but I told them I wouldn't sign anything and would keep them informed of what I would be offered by my current team. The very next morning I met with a few members of the barracuda board. They told me how shocked they were to find out what the head coach had done and that whatever I wanted they would do. Unfortunately I told them that after what the head coach had done, I did not want to work with her and wanted to have the head coaching authority since I would be the one doing it all anyways. They were completely supportive of this, but knew that it would be difficult because the board would have to vote in order to make this change in authority. Unfortunately, the head coach is also on the board and had a band of supporters. So the board voted and it was split right down the middle. I was once again shocked that I had received so many votes, I was sure I would receive little support since this head coach had been there for 30 years. I never dreamed that anyone or anything would be able to dethrone her. So then the politics started. The board would have to vote again the next day and all the while I had been getting calls from the Typhoons trying stay in the game.
Chapter 3:
During this fiasco word got out about my potential for leaving the team. As a result, I received many emails and calls from parents in complete support of me. I have never dealt with so much praise in my life. I never knew what effect I had actually had on all the people I interacted with on the team. I was so touched and grateful for this experience because I never would have known. It just makes my heart skip a beat when I hear the parents and kids confidently pledge that they will go where ever I go. For a moment, I let myself hope. I actually thought that maybe this could work out. Maybe the board will decide in favor of me taking on the head coaching responsibilities. However, that night Shari gave me the final tally. I lost by one vote. I can't say that I was too upset because I would still get to work with the Typhoons, but I do know that it would have been better for the kids if I stayed. I also knew very well the principle that unrighteous rulers cannot be dethroned because they surround themselves with people who will keep them in power. I by no means think the head coach is evil in any way, but I do recognize that the kids need someone who is there for them and who cares.
Chapter 4:
So The next day I called the Typhoons who were over joyed that I would be working with them this summer. I was uncertain of my future with the year round team (Torpedoes) because if the head coach had booted me out of the summer league team, then the year round team was definitely next. However, I completely underestimated the power of the parents. I think the head coach also under estimated the effect I had on the team. The next day I got an email from the team manager telling me some great news which I am not supposed to disclose yet. This great news, something I never thought would happen, is going to give me an amazing opportunity and I am so excited for the next season. Once I am given the OK I will announce the great news.
Epilogue:
I am so glad I did not get the swim camp position. Shari Dew said in one of her talks that we should not only pray for necessity, but for something better. Joseph Smith was not satisfied with what he and Emma would be able to eat one day due to limited resources. He blessed their meager meal and prayed for something better. Only a few minutes later a man showed up with a bag of flour and a ham. I never thought to pray for something better. I decided to try it out during my employment issues and I never imagined it would be this much better. There are bounteous blessings to be had if we only but ask.
THE END
No story is complete with out pictures! Here are some of the people I work with :)
Prologue:
I know I am going to hear "I told you so" a million times after this update. I have been forced to face the fact that not everything thing or everyone is against me. I still hold to my pessimistic views, however, lately I have been feeling quite optimistic. It all comes down to that awful principle that when a door closes God opens a window; not getting what you have set your heart on is actually a blessing. Since I have a long commute to school, I have turned my car into my sanctuary. I like to listen to a lot of church material. Not just once through, but the same talks over and over again. I find it very interesting that even though I have listened to something 10 times, I can still get something out of it that I had never heard before. Lately, I have been listening to Hugh B. Brown. He has the most profound analogy that places Heavenly Father as a gardener and his children as the plants. He cuts down a bush that has grown very tall. The bush cry's out bitterly for being cut down after making so much progress,"How could you do it, how could you cut me down? I was doing so well and now I am only a small stub". The gardener replies "Look little bush, I am the gardener here and I know what I want you to be, if I let you grow they way you want to you will never amount to anything, but one day, after you have grown properly and reached your full potential, you will look back and say 'thank you Mr. gardener for cutting me down'". I feel like I can pretty much quote it because I have listened to it so many times. I think that everyone feels like that little bush sometimes. The hardest thing is to be cut down and trust that everything will work out. So for the first time ever, I am in a position where I can finally say thank you gardener for cutting me down. I used to believe that the amount of pain and suffering a person goes through will be equal to the joy they will experience at some point. Unfortunately in my experience, after enduring so much pain for so long and never receiving that compensation of joy, I had lost hope and faith in people. They always talk about doing the right thing, but when it comes down to it, they don't act. But now, I have, for the first time, received a glimmer of hope that there are people out there who can and will do the right thing.
Chapter 1:
I have been working as a coach for the Anderson Mill Swim Club (Torpedoes) for the past year and a half. I love my job and the kids I coach tremendously. I have a passion for coaching and teaching that I never knew existed. Whenever I receive compliments I always say that I learned from the worst, and I have indeed learned from my previous coaches who treated me in the worst possible way. This past year I have dedicated a large amount of time and effort into this team. The head coach was never around and as a result there was no established order. I saw that as an extremely detrimental situation for the kids and decided to take the rains. I brought law and order and built relationships with the kids and parents. I introduced dryland, winter training, goals, and character building concepts and principles that transfer from the swimming to all aspects of life. I gained the respect and trust of the kids and doubled the teams size with in one year. I can't even describe the amount of time drops and success a majority of the kids have experienced. I am so gratified by it.
About a month ago I approached the head coach about the upcoming summer season and coaching with the summer league team (Barracudas). I had been performing all the head coaching duties without a head coaches compensation. I also did not agree in large part with the coaching philosophy she had. I felt that a head coach should be there every day and show they care about every single person on the team. I addressed these and many other issues I had and told her the I would seek other coaching opportunities elsewhere if necessary changes weren't made. Her response made me feel completely dispensable and I was told to go somewhere else. I have never been so angry. I know she knew how much I put into the team and yet I was not as important to her as other coaches I worked with who put forth no effort and yet were paid twice as much. I could only see how once again I was over looked, something that has happened to me again and again. This also happened right after I was rejected by the swim camp. Fortunately, since I always expect the worst, I felt somewhat prepared for all this. Of course it would happen to me, its only natural. So I applied, interviewed, and was offered a position coaching for the Typhoons (another local summer league team). I was excited for the opportunity to work for a coach who had his act together and really wanted me. On my way to the house of one of the board members to sign the contract, I received a call from one of the Torpedo/Barracuda Board members. She said she heard that I was going to coach somewhere else and wanted to know why. I told her about my encounter with the head coach and how I was told to leave. She was surprised and horrified that the head coach did not tell the board anything.
Chapter 2:
Shari, the board member, began to express her apologies for the head coaches actions and asked for me to reconsider signing the contract with the Typhoons so that the Barracudas/Torpedoes could counter offer. I was in a complete shock, but felt it only fair that I let them have a shot since the head coach did not tell them she had told me to leave. This of course only increased my frustration with the head coach. I called the Typhoon board and told them that I would be letting the Barracudas/Torpedoes counter offer. They told me to let them know what they could do to make me reconsider. At this point I had no idea, but I told them I wouldn't sign anything and would keep them informed of what I would be offered by my current team. The very next morning I met with a few members of the barracuda board. They told me how shocked they were to find out what the head coach had done and that whatever I wanted they would do. Unfortunately I told them that after what the head coach had done, I did not want to work with her and wanted to have the head coaching authority since I would be the one doing it all anyways. They were completely supportive of this, but knew that it would be difficult because the board would have to vote in order to make this change in authority. Unfortunately, the head coach is also on the board and had a band of supporters. So the board voted and it was split right down the middle. I was once again shocked that I had received so many votes, I was sure I would receive little support since this head coach had been there for 30 years. I never dreamed that anyone or anything would be able to dethrone her. So then the politics started. The board would have to vote again the next day and all the while I had been getting calls from the Typhoons trying stay in the game.
Chapter 3:
During this fiasco word got out about my potential for leaving the team. As a result, I received many emails and calls from parents in complete support of me. I have never dealt with so much praise in my life. I never knew what effect I had actually had on all the people I interacted with on the team. I was so touched and grateful for this experience because I never would have known. It just makes my heart skip a beat when I hear the parents and kids confidently pledge that they will go where ever I go. For a moment, I let myself hope. I actually thought that maybe this could work out. Maybe the board will decide in favor of me taking on the head coaching responsibilities. However, that night Shari gave me the final tally. I lost by one vote. I can't say that I was too upset because I would still get to work with the Typhoons, but I do know that it would have been better for the kids if I stayed. I also knew very well the principle that unrighteous rulers cannot be dethroned because they surround themselves with people who will keep them in power. I by no means think the head coach is evil in any way, but I do recognize that the kids need someone who is there for them and who cares.
Chapter 4:
So The next day I called the Typhoons who were over joyed that I would be working with them this summer. I was uncertain of my future with the year round team (Torpedoes) because if the head coach had booted me out of the summer league team, then the year round team was definitely next. However, I completely underestimated the power of the parents. I think the head coach also under estimated the effect I had on the team. The next day I got an email from the team manager telling me some great news which I am not supposed to disclose yet. This great news, something I never thought would happen, is going to give me an amazing opportunity and I am so excited for the next season. Once I am given the OK I will announce the great news.
Epilogue:
I am so glad I did not get the swim camp position. Shari Dew said in one of her talks that we should not only pray for necessity, but for something better. Joseph Smith was not satisfied with what he and Emma would be able to eat one day due to limited resources. He blessed their meager meal and prayed for something better. Only a few minutes later a man showed up with a bag of flour and a ham. I never thought to pray for something better. I decided to try it out during my employment issues and I never imagined it would be this much better. There are bounteous blessings to be had if we only but ask.
THE END
No story is complete with out pictures! Here are some of the people I work with :)
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