Final Day of Coaching Course

Today, we completed the coaching course. The coaches have learned so very much in the 40 hours that we have been together. Sisi tuko pamoja, as we say. I will be adding a little information on some of the coaches so that you may learn more about the individuals.

At the end of the course, one of the coaches stood up and said, “I have some concerns about the course.” Because of being accustomed to my American background, my first thoughts were, “Oh, great. What complaint will I be listening to this time.” The coach went on to say something like, “My first concern is that I want to say that we are very grateful for the opportunity. My second concern is that I want to thank the instructors for sharing their knowledge with us. My third concern is that I want to thank all of you for treating us like a family. As you know, we have traveled a long way to be here, and you have forgotten about the two day journey it took to get here because of your hospitality.” Another coach then stood to share similar sentiments, thanking God, the instructors, and the coaches.

How often do we miss an opportunity to express our gratitude in the United States? How often do we not even realize what we have received. I have taught one full semester of high school and did not have students thanking me for the opportunity. Rather, I am regularly fielding complaints about the discomfort of the growing process, or, receiving a communication from a parent that my teaching style does not work for their child when I address the problem that their child is not turning in homework. You know what fixes poor learning habits? Focus and gratitude. If your purpose for being thankful is greater than your focus for being distracted by your own comfort, you will find success in anything you do. It is a strength of the mind that makes the person.

The world is not fair. But we don’t really see it in our everyday lives. We only see what we want to believe. We cannot wallow and play ourselves to be a victim, we must, rather, like the Kenyans, find reasons to be thankful. These are a joy-filled people. As a whole, I would not call Americans a joy-filled people. Rather, I would say that we are far from it. Yet, we have everything we have ever needed to be successful but we subscribe to a social presence that obscures our reality, draws us away from what is truly important, and invests in competition to the point of division.

Let’s make America “great again?” How about starting with a hug? How about complimenting somebody on something more than their appearance? How about getting rid of your fake life that you pretend to live in your social media accounts? How about you respect your peers? How about you care enough to try and to fail and to be uncomfortable for an opportunity? The world is not about an individual; it is not about you. You are but one of the many parts of the body. It is about how you fit into the body, how you are connected in the love you share.

Our Coaches and Their Stories: