Jill and I attended the wedding of Elisa Watson and Trevor McKenna yesterday. Elisa was one of my basketball players I coached at Glendale High School and through Basketball Tillsonburg. This was a past time I enjoyed for over 20 years. It is hard to believe that the young girls I coached are now getting engaged, married and having children. Time certainly moves quickly. I guess that just means I just having fun. I also felt honoured to be invited.

At the wedding I had a flood of memories and I hope I had a positive impact on the players I was fortunate enough to coach. One of the things I hoped to instill in these young players was the idea of no blame. I made note to the girls I coached that when you point your finger at somebody else in hopes of blaming them, you have three fingers pointing back at you. The second thing I tried to tech them was to set a goal and always give it your best.

Today, two coincidences happened that tie to the “no blame game.” While I was out for a walk today I was listening to Dan Sullivan’s podcast. During the episode he said “You can either blame or create; you can’t do both at the same time.” This is a quote I wish could have added to my finger pointing lesson.

The second coincidence was when I got home, Coach Carter was on television. It is one of my favourite movies. The thing that hit home the most about the movie was when one of the players quoted Marianne Williamson. The quote went like this:

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.It is our light, not our darknessthat most frightens us.We ask ourselves who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?Actually, who are you not to be?You are a child of God.

Your playing smalldoes not serve the world.There’s nothing enlightened about shrinkingso that other people won’t feel insecure around you.We are all meant to shine, as children do.
We were born to make manifestthe glory of God that is within us.It’s not just in some of us;it’s in everyone.

And as we let our own light shine,we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.As we’re liberated from our own fear,our presence automatically liberates others.

This is truly inspirational.