Perspective is Everything

As coaches, we are storytellers, and we are the ones permitted by our athletes to help explain what is going on and why it happened.

At our best, we can broaden their perspective and give them better options than what is offered through the different forms of media available to them.

Read this poem, then read it in the reverse sentence by sentence: same words, different perspective.

Today was the absolute worst day ever

And don't try to convince me that

There's something good in everyday

Because, when you take a closer look,

This world is a pretty evil place.

Even if

Some goodness does shine through once in a while

Satisfaction and happiness don't last.

And it's not true that

It's all in the mind and heart

Because

True happiness can be attained

Only if one's surroundings are good

It's not true that good exists

I'm sure you can agree that

The reality

Creates

My attitude

It's all beyond my control

And you'll never in a million years hear me say

Today was a very good day

Now read it from bottom to top, sentence by sentence, and see the world from a different perspective.

I share this with my athletes, asking one of the leaders to read it, then allowing a different leader to read. It always sparks great conversation.