So oftentimes it happens, that we live our lives in chains, and we never even know we have the key.” The Eagles, Already Gone
I heard this Eagles’ song and the lyrics carried me back to age 17. I was a tired, sweaty kid bunched with my teammates around Coach Pat Mulcahy after basketball practice in our high school gym. Practice was over. We were ready to go home. But on this day, Coach decided to recite a poem.
A poem? At basketball practice?
We were a captive audience, so we listened.
Coach shared a poem titled “The Man Who Thinks He Can”.
Short version, it was about attitude, and about believing in yourself. “Success begins in a fellow’s will, it’s all in the state of mind.”
Profound words.
But those words washed over us. Our mushy 17-year-old brains didn’t understand that a simple shift in mindset can make all the difference.
From a young age my parents encouraged a positive attitude. But this was the first time I remember hearing this topic put into words in another setting.
At that moment, I didn’t comprehend the powerful impact of those words. But as I journeyed through life, the wisdom condensed in that poem revealed itself.
“If you think you are beaten, you are. If you think you dare not, you don’t. If you like to win, but you think you can’t, it is almost a cinch you won’t.”
These simple but weighty words serve as a reminder that our thoughts have the power to shape our reality. Your state of mind is vital, and it’s also connected to so many other excellent qualities – confidence, personal responsibility, resilience, determination.
All of those key qualities start with your state of mind, and they are all important in every aspect of life – relationships, parenting (and now grandparenting), friendships, work.
So as I flash back to that time in the gym, what do I remember?
I remember Coach’s booming voice that shook the bleachers. And we all remember the thunderous “guidance” to Thomas about dribbling the ball higher than his 6’4” head, and Holcomb starting his layups from 16 feet away from the hoop.
But, thankfully, we also remember some of the life lessons. Teamwork, of course.
“Low profile” – Coach’s constant reminder. Let your actions speak louder than your words – a lesson that was much easier to teach in the days before social media.
And most importantly, somewhere along the way the message stuck — your state of mind can carry you farther than you ever imagined.
So, Coach, a belated and heartfelt “thank you” for the lessons that started as tiny seeds planted in mush, and finally sprouted. Hopefully putting this into words gives you some comfort that your words were not uttered in vain (except maybe those words about Thomas dribbling the ball over his head, which continued well until adulthood when he insisted on playing point guard on our community team).
I’ll leave you with a fitting quote from Maya Angelou who said it best: “If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude.”
