I'm a big fan of Mark L. Walberg. He's a game show host that's been given some real stinkers (anybody remember Temptation Island?), but he's always been a consummate professional on every show he's done. He even made The Moment of Truth, one of the most uncomfortable shows to watch, a watchable hour. He's one of those guys that you don't see on TV very often, but when you see him at his best, you wonder why he hasn't been given more work.

One thing I didn't know is that Mark has been the host of Antiques Roadshow for some time now, and he recently wrote a really neat article on what he's learned during his tenure there. I just wanted to pull a quote from the article that really resonated with me. Check out the full post HERE.

"Worthwhile antiques, much like worthwhile people, exude an aura of truth and don't need to overcompensate. If you've ever met someone who is truly authentic then you know what I'm saying. They answer you with short, unqualified answers. They listen to you without searching for something in your words that will make them feel bigger. And in turn, you respect them without even fully being aware of why you hold them in esteem. What they say to you stays with you forever. That, my friends, is value." -Mark L. Walberg

Gnothi Seauton

Some of the best advice I have ever received from a teacher was during my first year at Hotchkiss. "Gnothi Seauton!", Mr Delprete proclaimed to my Ancient History Class during our first meeting. It was advice that would stick with me, even to this day.

Mr. Delprete, or "Delly", as he was so affectionately nicknamed, was the athletic director and former head football coach at Hotchkiss. But since every teacher at our school wore many different hats, Delly ended up becoming our freshman History teacher that semester. Our class dean, Mr. Barker would take over the following semester, but Delly made his mark on our class- specifically me.

This is the kind of guy I didn't expect to teach history- or at the very least, teach it well. After all, he was the athletic director, and if most high schools are any indication of what to expect, Delly should have been an arrogant prick who couldnt give a damn about Caligula or Caesar or Charlemagne. But he did, and the first week of class, he made his mantra for the semester well known- Gnothi Seauton!

Gnothi Seauton, as the Greeks say, means Know Thyself. It's a mantra that calls for constant self examination, adaptation, and execution. As you grow up, figuring out who you are and what you stand for is like trying to figure out a Rubik's Cube- a few select people can do it very easily, but for most, it's a constant struggle that usually ends with you figuring out by some stroke of dumb luck. It's easy to forget who you are because it can change so quickly, so knowing yourself keeps you grounded and self aware- virtues that can be difficult to practice at times.

I should know better than most- I've been a geek, a spazz, a respected nerd, a self respecting nerd (not the same), a somewhat cool guy, and that's just the surface- the amount of self examination and adaptation that I've had to have has been pretty substantial. I can't stay that it's always been easy, but it's helped me become who I am today.

So take a few minutes in your spare time to Gnothi Seauton- your future depends on it!

So While You're Here, Enjoy The View

Whenever I find myself in a rut and life just sucks, I think of the theme song from One Day At A Time:

This is it. This is it.
This is life, the one you get
So go and have a ball.

This is it. This is it
Straight ahead and rest assured
You can’t be sure at all.

So while you’re here enjoy the view
Keep on doing what you do
So hold on tight we'll muddle through
One day at a time, One day at a time.

So up on your feet. Up on your feet
Somewhere there’s music playing.
Don’t you worry none
We’ll just take it like it comes.

One day at a time!

Hope that helps!

You Cannot Be Afraid To Lose!

Disney movies tend to be preachy and quite cheesy when it comes to their message, but I do have to say- this is one of the more meaningful speeaches given in Disney lore. I give to you, from The Mighty Ducks 3, Coach Orion's speech on hockey...and life. If you can't access the Youtube video, the text is below. The first couple of sentences in parentheses was the dialogue before the speech begins. Enjoy!



[What's the one thing all great teams have in common? Defense. See, unlike scoring, defense never quits. But to play great defense you need one thing above all else.] Confidence. Listen, if you learn nothin' else when you're here, you learn this, all right? Cause it's not just about hockey. It's easy to be confident when you have control of the puck. It's very, very difficult to keep that confidence when you gotta take whatever strange bounces life throws your way. Don't be careless, but don't be too careful either. You cannot be afraid to lose! That's how you gain the confidence to attack the game when the puck isn't yours. That's how you attack life... even when you think you don't have any control. And that's how you play real defense.

Failure is an option...isn't it?

So I still have yet to get a grade lower than a C on any of my assignments in grad school. Most of the time, my motivation for studying is to learn the material and do better in my classes. But every now and then, there's that class or two where you go the extra mile just to keep above water. Face it- every college student goes through it. Usually, this situation comes about when there's a class that you HAVE to take, rather than a tough elective. Whether your class was a requirement or an elective, remember this quote from Michael Jordan:

"I can accept failure, everyone fails at something. But I can't accept not trying."

You're in college! Push yourself to the limit academically! Even if you fail and are forced to drop a class, you will have gained new knowledge, new friends, new contacts, and a new appreciation for a subject you may not have known about. Furthermore, failure can help you decide how much you love your major and may help you reevaluate whether or not you want to change your major. I was a communications major, and no matter how low I may have gotten in some of my classes, I still loved what I did- that's how I knew I was in the right field; even when they're getting hit, boxers still get up and work harder to keep fighting. Even when a doctor can't find a cure, he goes right back to the drawing board to figure out the problem. Love for your profession is a powerful thing; even when you fail, you still succeed. So learn from your failures! Seize the day!