Tattle-Tale: A Lesson About Character

"People of character do the right thing, not because they think it will change the world, but because they refuse to be changed by the world."

-- Michael Josephson




Professional Golf Association (PGA) Rules call for a two-stroke penalty when a player moves any impediment with the start of the player’s backswing. On April 18, 2010, the penalty was imposed on Brian Davis at the Verizon Heritage Golf Classic played at the Harbour Town Golf Links in Hilton Head, South Carolina. The penalty was imposed on during a playoff round between Davis and eventual champion, Jim Furyk. The penalty cost Brian Davis the championship and over $400,000 in winnings.

The infraction was so slight that it was not witnessed by Furyk or PGA officials. However, Davis said he felt something on his takeaway swing. Davis immediately called for PGA officials and reported his own infraction. After reviewing the videotape several times in slow-motion, it was determined that Brian Davis did indeed strike a reed in his backswing. Jim Furyk was declared the winner.

It is refreshing to know that there are professional athletes that still play by the rules. In today’s society we’ve developed an attitude of "win at all costs." From youth sports to professional sports we have heard numerous stories where coaches and players have disregarded the rules for the sake of winning the game. In the business world, corruption is rampant. We are living in a “do whatever it takes” culture: lie, cheat, and/or steal in order to come out on top.

The story of Brian Davis’ honesty at Harbour Town overshadowed the win by Jim Furyk. The buzz wasn’t about Jim Furyk winning his 15th PGA Tour event. No, it was about a golfer telling the truth; a golfer whose self-reported violation cost him a chance at his first PGA Tour Victory. The story at Harbour Town was about a golfer who put honesty and integrity above money and winning.

We can all learn a lesson from Brian Davis. Davis’ display of true sportsmanship reflects what is really important in life; being a person of character. Character is doing the right thing at the right time even when nobody is paying attention. Our great President George Washington once said, “I hope I shall always possess firmness and virtue enough to maintain what I consider the most enviable of all titles, the character of an honest man." What Brian Davis lost of the course, he gained by strenghtening his character.

Remember if you use deceit to gain advantage, even if it is “just a little,” you may win in the short-term, but you’ll lose in the long run. You’ll lose, because even the littlest of deceit chips away at your character. It today’s culture it is easy to get caught up in the quest for winning. But remember, when the game of life is over, you’ll be judged not by the number of wins you’ve accumulated, but solely upon your character.

Brian Davis you’re my new hero!

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It's your life: Live it, Love it & Celebrate it!
MJD

I Get To

"There is a huge price tag on grumbling for you and everyone around you.  The antidote is always gratitude." - Unknown

Grumble, grumble, grumble!  Why grumble?  Grumbling never solves problems, it only makes them worse. Grumbling is contagious!  Not only will it bring a grumbler down, it brings others down too.  Because the grumbler's sole focus is on the consequence(s) of a problem, the grumbler becomes blind to a resolution of the problem.  Grumbling is negative energy at work.  Negative energy will dictate a grumbler's thought process.  Hence, the grumbler continues to dwell on and complain about what is wrong.

Are you a grumbler?  Do you know someone who is a grumbler? In order to break the grumbling habit one needs to stop focusing on what is wrong in their life and focus on what is right.  I bet if you really thought about it, you'd find a lot more things right in your life than wrong.   So, I encourage you to stop focusing on what you don't have and appreciate what you do have.

The next time you're faced with situation in which you feel compelled to do something, don’t grumble and say, "I have to ..."  Instead, enthusiastically say," I get to …!"  When you say "I have to" it becomes an obligation.  When you say "I get to" it becomes a privilege.  There are many people who are significantly less fortunate than you.  People less fortunate than you would love to "get to do" what you feel you "have to do."  For instance, in today's economy, don't say, “I have to go to work,” Instead, say "I get to go to work."   Think of the number of people who are out of work right now.  I bet if they were offered a job they wouldn't see having a job as an obligation.  No, they would see it as a privilege!  They would "get to" go to work.   When you really think about why do we say, "I have to go to work?"

Make it a point to change everything in your life from "I have to" to "I get to".   Listen to the words you use.  If you hear yourself say, "I have to …,” change that to "I get to…" "I don't have to go to work; I get to go to work."  "I don't have to work-out; I get to work-out.  "I don't have to walk my dog; I get to walk my dog."   Not everybody is as fortunate to "get to" do what you get to do - always remember that!  When you take on a "get to" philosophy you'll experience the power of possessing an attitude of gratitude.  The positive energy of gratitude will change not only the way you look at a problem, but will change the way you see the world.  And, guess what, you’re the one in charge of the way you view the world.  “Have to” or “Get to” the choice is yours!

Gotta go now - gotta a few things "I get to" do before the day is done!

It’s your life: live it, love it and celebrate it!MJD

From Can't to Can

"The human spirit is indomitable"
-- Roger Bannister

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Today marks the anniversary of Roger Bannister being the first person to run a mile under four minutes.  At the time of the feat, running the mile under 4 minutes was believed to be humanly impossible.  Doctors and scientists believed that anyone who attempted such a feat would die trying.  On May 6, 1954 in Oxford, England, Roger Bannister ran the mile in a time of 3:59:4 seconds.  Due to Bannister's passion, belief, focus and work ethic, what once was thought to be impossible became a reality. 

Roger Bannister demonstrated to the world what the human spirit is capable of.  It only took 46 days for another runner, John Lundy, to break Bannister's world record time.  Since Bannister's eventful day in 1954, hundreds of other athletes have run a sub-four minute mile.  The current world record for the mile is 3:43.13

Bannister proved to the world, “The human spirit is indomitable.”  When cultivated appropriately, even scientific research can be proven wrong by a determined human spirit.  If the human spirit can prove scientific research invalid, just think what it can do to the cynics and naysayers in your life.  Christopher Reeves once said, "“For everyone who thought I couldn’t do it… for everyone who thought I shouldn’t do it… for everyone who said, ‘It’s impossible’… see you at the finish line!”

Life can be compared to a race.  It has a starting line and a finish line and time is a determining factor.  In a race we measure time by duration from start to finish.  A champion is declared solely by who had the fastest time.  The “Race of Life” is different.  Time is measured by the quality of time you spent from start to finish.  Your success will be determined solely by the manner in which you spent your time.  Don’t let others rob you of your destiny; believe and achieve!

As we continue in our “Race of Life,” we need to remember the story of Roger Bannister; the man who believed what couldn't be done could be done.  You can become a champion in the “Race of Life” by following the example of Roger Bannister: challenge yourself, invoke the human spirit, and believe that things can be done even when other say they can't.  And, if you need a little help, remember this powerful verse, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me – Philippians 4:13.

Runners to your mark, set, go!

It's Your Life: Live it, Love it & Celebrate it!

MJD

The Boomerang Theory

"Bless a thing and it will bless you. Curse it and it will curse you.
- Emmet Fox

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Fox's quote describes life's Boomerang Theory. The Boomerang Theory did not derive from scientific research or intense philosophical debate. It's not based upon a paradigm or scientific model. It doesn't take hundreds of pages to describe. No, the Boomerang Theory is very simplistic. It only consists of 10 words, but explains why we eventually get what we deserve in life.

The Boomerang Theory: Whatever you throw out into life, will return unto you!

When you toss a boomerang it always returns to its point of origin (you).   Hence, The Boomerang Theory of Life sets forth that  whatever comes from you, will return to you.

Therefore:

If love comes from you, love will return to you.
If hate comes from you, hate will return to you.

If kindness comes from you, kindness will return to you.
If rudeness comes from you, rudeness will return to you.

If tolerance comes from you, tolerance will return to you.
If prejudice comes from you, prejudice will return to you.

If humility comes from you, humility will return to you.
If arrogance comes from you, arrogance will return to you.

If respect comes from you, respect will return to you.
If contempt comes from you, contempt will return to you.

You get the picture!

So there you have it, the Boomerang Theory!

Make sure that whatever boomerang you toss out, you'll want to catch it when it returns!

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It's your life: Live it, Love it & Celebrate it!
MJD

Paying the Price

"The dictionary is the only place where success comes before work. Hard work is the price we must pay for success. You can accomplish anything if you're willing to pay the price."
-- Vince Lombardi

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In these days of fast food, convenience stores, and super centers, our society has developed into a "Hurry up, I want it now" culture. Today, we want instant success. Like the dictionary, we want to put success before work. It doesn't work that way! We want the rewards, but are not willing to pay the price. When we look at others who are successful, we seem to focus on the fruits of their success, but pay little attention to the labor which bore the fruits. Rarely do we contemplate the hours of learning, training and hard work. We neglect to focus on the adversity, failures and disappointments one encountered. We see the benefits of success and say we want it. But, are we really willing to pay the price?

Unlike our "Hurry up, I want it now" culture, there is no fast lane to success. On the contrary, it's a slow lane. It's a slow lane that consists of bumps and turns. It's a lane that requires determination, focus and hard work. Success isn't measured by how far you make it to the top. Rather, it is measured by the road you've traveled in trying to make it to the top.
When it comes down to it, success can only be measured by the price you've paid.

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It's Your Life: Live it, Love it, Celebrate it!
MJD

The Glass

"Stop asking if the glass is half full or half empty. Instead ask "What's in it? How did it get there? What can I do with it?"

-- David Kaufman

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If the glass is half empty, you're considered pessimistic. If the glass if half full, you're optimistic. Your attitude about life will determine how you see the contents of the glass. Kaufman's point is right on. When it comes down to it, it really doesn't matter how full or empty the glass is. What counts is an understanding of the present ("What's in it?"), the past ("How did it get there?"), and more importantly, the future ("What can I do with it?).

Your attitude will definitely effect the way you'll perceive something (half full or half empty). In the long run, it doesn't matter if your glass if half empty or half full, what does matter is doing to work to figure out how you'll fill your glass, so not only will you have enough, but it overflows so that another person's glass may be full!

May your glass be continually overflowing!

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It's Your Life: Live it, Love it, Celebrate it!
MJD

The Power of Forgiveness

"Forgiveness does not change the past, but it does enlarge the future."

-- Paul Boese

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When you truly forgive someone it is a liberating experience. You release negative energy, in the forms anger, hostility and vengeance, that has taken hold of your heart and head. With a clear head and a clean heart, you can begin harnessing positive energy. Positive energy is the fuel which powers growth and development. With negative energy out and positive energy in, the future suddenly becomes bigger and brighter!

Make it a point today to truly forgive someone who may have wronged you. It really is the best thing you can do for yourself and someone else at the same time.

Talk about a win-win situation!

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It's Your Life: Live it, Love it, Celebrate it!
MJD