A Powerful Battle Cry For Living Your Life…
The title, and inspiration, for this blog post comes from Jim Valvano’s 1993 ESPY speech, highlighted by seven words. These seven words are like a battle cry and a mantra for living your life.
Don’t give up. Don’t ever give up!
Jimmy Valvano was the head basketball coach at North Carolina State University and was known as one of the most passionate coaches in College basketball.
He led his team in one of the greatest Cinderella stories in college basketball history. Winning the 1983 NCAA Championship, against the highly talented, Houston Cougars (favoured to win by 7.5 pts). The Houston team featured some of the most dominant players in College basketball such as, Hakeem Olajuwon & Clyde Drexler.
One of the most endearing images from this game was an exuberant Jimmy running around the court (looking for someone to hug) after the win remains one of the most enduring images of any NCAA tournament.
Every day, ordinary people accomplish extraordinary things
As storied as his coaching and broadcast career was, he could be most known for his 1993 ESPY acceptance speech.
Jimmy knew he was dying of cancer and he passed away less than two months after giving this speech.
He never gave up. Although he lost his battle with cancer, he wanted to make sure no one had to go through the disease again.
Before his passing, Jimmy formed a foundation to fund cutting-edge research to help battle cancer. It’s a legacy that has affected, and will continue to impact, millions of people around the world.
If you knew your time was limited, what would be your last message you would leave this world?
A couple of messages from this powerful speech:
- Have an enthusiasm for life
- Pursue your dreams
- Keep your dreams alive, despite your problems
- Be willing to work every day for your dreams
- Laugh, think & cry every day
- Don’t give up, don’t ever give up
“Enthusiasm is one of the most powerful engines of success. When you do a thing, do it with all your might. Put your whole soul into it. Stamp it with your own personality. Be active, be energetic, be enthusiastic and faithful, and you will accomplish your object. Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.”
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
Enjoy This Powerful Message:
I’m a very emotional and passionate man. I can’t help it. That’s being the son of Rocco and Angelina Valvano. It comes with the territory. We hug, we kiss, we love. When people say to me how do you get through life or each day, it’s the same thing. To me, there are three things we all should do every day.
Number one is laugh. You should laugh every day. Number two is think. You should spend some time in thought. Number three is, you should have your emotions moved to tears, could be happiness or joy.
But think about it. If you laugh, you think, and you cry, that’s a full day. That’s a heck of a day.
~ Jim Valvano
Today; Laugh, Think and Cry. You owe it to yourself and others … you are worth it!
Russell Westcott
#Inspire #Encourage #Love
