ANYWAY

I read a little book entitled Anyway by Keith Kent. He lists the 10 Paradoxical Commandments. They remind me of my youngest son, Evan. In December of 2010, my wife and I flew to Oahu to watch him play basketball, three games on three islands. They won all three and it was a defining moment in his college basketball career. After I read that book, it hit me, HE lives many of these commandments. It’s just who he is. Here they are.

People are illogical, unreasonable and self-centered. Love them ANYWAY!
If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives. Do good ANYWAY!
If you are successful you will win false friends and true enemies. Succeed ANYWAY!
The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow. Do good ANYWAY!
Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable. Be honest and frank ANYWAY!
The biggest men and women with the biggest ideas will be shot down by the smallest men and women with the smallest minds. Think Big ANYWAY!
People favor the underdogs but follow only the top dogs. Fight for a few underdogs ANYWAY!
What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight. Build ANYWAY!
People may need help but attack you if you try to help them. Help people ANYWAY!
Give the world the best you have and you may get kicked in the teeth. Give the world the best you have ANYWAY!

There is a man in Hawaii by the name of Robert Alm. He is a successful attorney and banker. He created a program called the Live Aloha Program. The meaning for Aloha they had in mind deals with caring, affection, and courtesy. Here is the list of their examples:

  • Respect your elders and children
  • Leave places better than you found them
  • Hold the door for others
  • Hold the elevator for others
  • Plan something
  • Return your shopping cart
  • Get out and enjoy nature
  • Pick up litter >Share with your neighbors
  • Create smiles Simple ideas.
  • What if you tried them out for thirty days, even if people think you are strange. Try them ANYWAY. Evan’s coaches, friends, teammates, and parents of teammates tell me with great regularity how nice our son is…all 6’ 11” of him. That doesn’t mean he isn’t a competitor and doesn’t want to win. He blocks your shot, then helps you up! I think its because he lives those 10 Commandments. He got them from his mother! As of this writing, he has been invited to a try out with the NBA team, The Golden State Warriors in October of 2012. All his hard work has paid off. He has a terrific foundation of hard work, focused effort, discipline and goal achievement. He will go as far as he sets his mind to. ANYWAY, that’s enough from the proud Dad.

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