Feeding time...

An old Cherokee is teaching his grandson about life.  "A fight is going on inside me," he said to the boy.

"It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves.  One is evil - he is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego."  He continued, "The other is good - he is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith.  The same fight is going on inside you and inside every other person, too."

The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, "Which wolf will win?"

The old Cherokee simply replied, "The one you feed."

I find that the first wolf does not require as much care to thrive in my life.  He's leaner and stronger than the second.  He's more agile and aggressive.  He always seems the first to react in difficult situations.  Human nature is to coddle feelings of anger, resentment and superiority without  nurturing feelings of happiness, compassion and humility.  How many times have I reflected on how happy I was about something good that happened?  How many times have I reflected on how angry I was about being wronged by someone else?  Which wolf am I feeding?

To successfully feed the second wolf, I have to do a better job of intentionally nurturing those characteristics that come so unnatural to me.

I'm out.

Sound advice...

The other day Herm Edwards was giving advice to college quarterbacks concerning the transition to the NFL.  The three things he told them were as follows:

1. Don't lose your passion for the game when you enter the NFL. 
2. Remember that nothing good happens after 12am.
3. When you get to the NFL, have only one of everything (i.e. one car, one house, one woman).

This is great advice not only for future NFL players, but for life in general.

Don't lose your passion for life-

Perspective:  It is easy to get caught up in the mundane day-to-day rituals and lose the enjoyment that can be derived from life.  I think of the song '16 Tons' by Tennessee Ernie Ford, "...another day older and deeper in debt."  True fulfillment will be found when we allow our perspective to define our circumstances instead of the other way around.

Nothing good happens after 12am-

Personal Accountability:  I'm not sure I totally agree with this statement.  On numerous occasions the conversations became more engrossing as the night waned on into early morning.  Many of my favorite memories from high school and college were made during the wee hours of the morning.  In fact, some of my greatest transgression have occurred during the hours preceding midnight.  I don't believe that the principle is necessarily an issue of time as it is a principle of responsibility.  If we make wise decisions, we will never have to live with regret.

Have only one of everything-

Moderation:  Have only one of everything.  That's just good advice.  It's obviously easier to get carried away with a huge signing bonus and a guaranteed contract.  However, I'm just as guilty of having excesses in my life.  It always results from want instead of need.  I believe that happiness is found in living a life of moderation.  It's only when we become consumed with the desire for more do we find life to be unsatisfying.

These statements are neither profound nor groundbreaking.  They are very simple principles.  Yet as I reflect on the concepts of perspective, personal responsibility and moderation, I find that application is difficult.  How much more enjoyable would my life be if I put this advice into practice every day?

I'm out.