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| Volume 2, Issue 10 | August/September 2003 |
| Jeff Yalden | |||||
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Thoughts to Live by - "Today is the first day of the rest of your life." "To dream of the person you would like to be . . . is to waste the person you are." "He who is not busy being born is busy dying." "Nothing will ever be attempted if all possible objections must first be overcome." "People are lonely because they build walls instead of bridges." "Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced." "You are that magic combination that will never be again, and I don't care how exalted you feel, or how lonely you feel, everyone of you is something unique and special. I wish we could tell this to children early so it wouldn't take them a lifetime to find out! You have a unique world to share."
"How wondrous if we could
accept the fact that we are our perfect self . . . Who is a more perfect You
than You? And You are the only perfect You who will pass this way in the
history of the world."
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Your Voice Matters As I travel the United States it has become evident that young people have good opinions and should be used as credible resources. I not only speak to over half a million youth annually but, I ALSO LISTEN! They are intelligent, knowledgeable, and capable and so are the caring adults who try to lead them in positive directions. It is my hope that this newsletter reaches over 50,000 people this year giving a voice to young people and the adults who guide them. The goal is to bring together youth and adult leaders by providing stories, comments and other educational resources. I thank you for your support and encourage you to use and pass this newsletter on to anyone you think would benefit. I offer thoughts and opinions and in no way intend to offend or insult anyone. I am sure you understand. Should you like to add something that you think would benefit the masses of in-purpose people please feel free to email me at jeffyalden@aol.com. Is it possible that creating your character can be likened to an artist creating a sculpture? It's my opinion that character is not something that just happens by itself, any more than a chisel can create a work of art without the hand guiding it. In both instances, a conscious decision for a specific outcome has been made and then it's up to you to have the courage to follow through with the decision you have made. The mind is constantly at work. Character is the result of hundreds and hundreds of choices you make that gradually turn who you are, at any given moment, into who you want to be. If that decision-making process is not present, you will still be somebody. You will still be alive but you may have a personality rather than a character. It is the hundreds and hundreds of choices that you make that define your character and your character, in turn, will help define you. Your thoughts and choices will help build the foundation for what is the essence of creating your character. Remember to be more concerned with your character than your reputation as your character is who you are; your reputation is who others think you are. Character is not something you were born with and can't change like your fingerprint. In fact, because you weren't born with it, it is something that you must take responsibility for creating. Your character is who you are when nobody is watching you. It is the reliability of oneself. Your character is who you are in the dark. When you start to define your character by the choices you make, it is then and only then that you will truly shape and define your life. Failure to take responsibility for building your character is robbing yourself of the opportunity to shape and sculpt your very own existence and significance. I don't believe that adversity by itself builds character and I certainly don't think that success erodes it. Character is built by how you respond to what happens in your life. Whether it's winning every game or losing every game. Getting rich or dealing with hard times. You build character out of certain qualities that you must create and diligently nurture within yourself. Just like you would plant and water a seed or gath0er wood and build a campfire. You've got to look for those things in your heart and in your gut. You've got to chisel away in order to find them. Just like chiseling away the rock in order to create the sculpture that has previously existed only in your imagination. But do you want to know the really amazing thing about character? If you are sincerely committed to making yourself into the person you want to be, you'll not only create those qualities, but you'll continually strengthen them. And you will recreate them in abundance even as you are drawing on them every day of your life. Just like the burning bush in the biblical book of Exodus, the bush burned but the flames did not consume it. Character sustains itself and nurtures itself even as it is being put to work, tested, and challenged. And once character is formed, it will serve as a solid, lasting foundation upon which to build the life you desire. (top) I have learned that it is fine to judge a person for their actions but to judge someone for who they are is just plain wrong. Touch someone's heart today and their lives will have changed as a result of you. That is a great feeling. (top) A young person in Arizona wrote this new school prayer since the Pledge of Allegiance and the Lord's Prayer are not allowed in most public schools anymore because the word "God" is mentioned . . . I like it and send it to you to share and think about ~ Now I sit me down in school If Scripture now the class recites, Our hair can be purple, orange or green, For praying in a public hall We're allowed to cuss and dress like
freaks, We can elect a pregnant Senior Queen, We can get our condoms and birth controls, It's scary here I must confess, Amen Author Unknown (top) Leadership Lessons We Can Learn from Geese Fact #1 - As each bird flaps its wings, it creates uplift for the bird following. By flying in a "V" formation, the whole flock adds 71 percent greater flying range than if one bird flew alone. Lesson Learned - People who share a common direction and sense of community can get where they are going quicker and easier because they are traveling on the strength of one another. Fact #2 - Whenever a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of trying to fly alone and quickly gets back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird immediately in front. Lesson Learned - If we have as much sense as geese, we will stay in formation with those who are ahead of where we want to go and be willing to accept their help as well as give ours to others. Fact #3 - When the lead goose gets tired, it rotates back into the formation and another goose flies at the point position. Lesson Learned - It pays to take turns doing the hard tasks and sharing leadership. Fact #4 - The geese in formation honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep up their speed. Lesson Learned - We need to make sure our honking from behind is encouraging, and not something else. Fact #5 - When a goose gets sick or wounded or shot down, two geese drop out of formation and follow it down to help and protect it. They stay with it until it is able to fly again, or dies. Then they launch out on their own, with another formation, or they catch up with their flock. Lesson Learned - If we have as much sense as geese do, we too, will stand by each other in difficult times as well as when we are strong. (top) Choosing Choices Carefully I am told the Canadian Northlands experience only two seasons, winter and July. As the back roads begin to thaw, they become muddy and vehicles traveling through the backcountry leave deep ruts. The ground freezes hard during the winder months, and the highway ruts become a part of the traveling challenges. For vehicles entering this undeveloped area during the winter, there is a sign which reads, "Driver, please choose carefully which rut you drive in, because you'll be in it for the next 20 miles." Choose carefully the path your life takes. Once you choose, your choices will control you. (top) Coy Wire - An Excellent Role Model for Youth Jeff Yalden supports his good friend and Buffalo Bill - Coy Wire - a graduate of Stanford University and a third round draft pick of the Bills. Coy in his rookie year surpassed all expectations from the Buffalo Bills and started in every game. He is a great athlete, role model, and person. His character, unselfishness, and loyalty to his family and friends sets a great example for young people. For more information on Coy and his foundation please visit the www.CoyWireFoundation.com. (top) Jeff's Upcoming Schedule
Happy New Year!
You can help me to schedule schools by kindly passing my name around to
people you know in education. I would truly appreciate your help. It has
always been word of mouth that has been my best advertisement. |
The Portable Jeff:
Keep It Simple - A Teenagers Guide to Life This book embodies the Jeff Yalden philosophy. Since 2000, this book has sold thousands of copies both within the continental US and internationally. "Life isn't complicated, we complicate life".. Read more.. (and for ordering information)
Traits of a Leader - A Character Based Workbook for Student Leaders This book covers the most important elements on the subject of character to help you become the kind of person you want to be. Read more.. (and for ordering information)
LEAD NOW or Step Aside! A must-read for student educators and leaders - written by Jeff and 15 of today's top education speakers. Read more.. (and for ordering information) Preview Jeff
Bring Jeff to Your Event "Jeff's words
will captivate your students as his inexhaustible energy permeates the
room." Contact Jeff today to find out how you can put his powerful message to work to positively impact the lives of your students. Call 1-800-948-9289 to find out how to bring Jeff to your next educational event or visit us on-line at JeffYalden.com. My goal is to reach 50,000 people with this newsletter over the next year but I need your help. If you know someone who will benefit from this message - a student, educator, parent - please pass it on. Use the Forward to a Friend link below to send a copy of this issue to anyone who will benefit from it. Don't worry, they won't be subscribed unless they ask to be. Each issue I will report our progress towards this goal. This newsletter is currently reaching 1011 subscribers! Only 48989 to go by June 2004! Subscriber Information To Unsubscribe New Subscribers
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