This past Friday, at Town Meeting, we talked about our New Year's Resolutions. Ms. Judy made a great video where students and staff alike, shared their goals, hopes and dreams for the new year. This is an excellent thing to discuss with your child. Also, don't only just ask them about themselves, but what the aspirations of their classmates are, and how they are going to help those around them meet those goals.
I was recently reading an article by Jay Williams, Duke University point guard from 1999-2002. He talked about how the team set individual and team goals and dreams each year. In 2001, Jay shared with his team that as the clock wound down and Duke was about to win the National Championship, he wanted to be the one to shoot the ball in the air in celebration in the closing seconds. As it turned out, 6 months after making this dream known to his teammates, Duke was in the National Championship game with a 10 point lead against Arizona with seconds left. As, the time began to expire and pandemonium was starting to ensue, Jay's teammate, Chris Duhan, started screaming his name as he was dribbling the ball on the opposite side of the court. Jay approached him and said, "What!?, What!?"
Duhan handed him the ball.
Jay looked at quizzically, and asked, "What you want me to do with this?"
Duhan responded, "Throw it up in the air!"
Duhan not only kept site on his goals as a player, but the hopes and dreams of his teammate. Jay Williams felt that gesture was as meaningful as being part of the National Championship team.
The lesson, from my perspective, is this. We may make individual resolutions, goals, hopes or dreams, but rarely do we accomplish those things in a vacuum and on our own. So its important to not only reflect on what we hope to accomplish, but think about who will help us get there and conversely, who we will help reach their goal. This is a powerful exercise. It teaches the true meaning of community and how we support and take care of one another. In this world we need to highlight this far more often.
Happy new year, may all your dreams and resolutions come true and may you help others reach their goals in the process.
I was recently reading an article by Jay Williams, Duke University point guard from 1999-2002. He talked about how the team set individual and team goals and dreams each year. In 2001, Jay shared with his team that as the clock wound down and Duke was about to win the National Championship, he wanted to be the one to shoot the ball in the air in celebration in the closing seconds. As it turned out, 6 months after making this dream known to his teammates, Duke was in the National Championship game with a 10 point lead against Arizona with seconds left. As, the time began to expire and pandemonium was starting to ensue, Jay's teammate, Chris Duhan, started screaming his name as he was dribbling the ball on the opposite side of the court. Jay approached him and said, "What!?, What!?"
Duhan handed him the ball.
Jay looked at quizzically, and asked, "What you want me to do with this?"
Duhan responded, "Throw it up in the air!"
Duhan not only kept site on his goals as a player, but the hopes and dreams of his teammate. Jay Williams felt that gesture was as meaningful as being part of the National Championship team.
The lesson, from my perspective, is this. We may make individual resolutions, goals, hopes or dreams, but rarely do we accomplish those things in a vacuum and on our own. So its important to not only reflect on what we hope to accomplish, but think about who will help us get there and conversely, who we will help reach their goal. This is a powerful exercise. It teaches the true meaning of community and how we support and take care of one another. In this world we need to highlight this far more often.
Happy new year, may all your dreams and resolutions come true and may you help others reach their goals in the process.
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