40 for 40: Random Advice for Myself (and You) about Life and Basketball from a 40 Year Old Coach

It's been 3 years since I've posted anything on 3FromTheCorner.com.  A lot has changed for me in that time. For you first time readers let me explain how this started, who I am and who I am now.

I'm a kid that grew up in a school with 512 kids K-12. I knew I wanted to be a Coach when I was 12 years old. I've coached on every level from kindergarten at the YMCA, to the AAU National Tournament. Been a Head Coach for Junior High and High School. Coached at a school with 100 kids and currently coach at a school with 600 kids a class. I love the game of basketball. You'll soon figure that out.

My good friend Alan Stein convinced me to start this blog 5 years ago in an attempt to share some thoughts on the game. I honestly never imagined that anyone else would read it. I was going to use it as a journal to get my thoughts out of my head so I could focus on other things.

Since my last post, I've had 3 different jobs, Associate Head Coach at Springdale High School, Head Coach at Gravette High School and now currently the Head Coach at West High School in Bentonville, Arkansas. I've traveled to some amazing camps, spoke at some clinics and really tried to grow as a Teacher of the Game. My personal life has changed as well. I am now a divorced father of two teenage boys who live with me primarily and also play for me. (That's a topic I'll be covering soon). I live a great life and it keeps getting better.

Today is my 40th Birthday. Normally I break every topic into 3 parts (3 from the Corner. I live in the Northwest corner of Arkansas and 3 points- see what I did there😉) but I've made a list of 40 things I think are important to me about life, the game of Basketball, and some that are as random as I am.

1. Happiness is Important - If you're happy don't mess it up. Don't take a new job, don't buy a new house or a new car. 
2. Find yourself a good group of friends - at least 6. It takes 6 to carry a casket. These 6 should be the last to let you down...Literally.
3. Never Stop Learning
4. Be True to Who You Are
5. Teach Man to Man Defense - Doesn't mean you have to play it.
6. Find a friend that you can quote movies and song lyrics with. 
7. Cry - It cleanses the soul
8. Read
9. Shower Beer - Water as hot as you can stand it. Beer as cold as possible. You'll thank me later
10. Listen to Country Music. It is acceptable Memorial Day to Labor Day for EVERYONE. Year round too.
11. Laugh at Yourself
12. Work out - I just really started this last year and your body deserves it.
13. Forgive
14. Know what your Favorite Movie, Song, Color, Food, Book are- Saying I don't know is boring
15. Don't Coach Angry - You can't do anything but fight mad
16. Watch "Friday Night Lights" (the TV Series on Netflix) the GREATEST series ever {post coming on it}
17. Ask Questions
18. Tell People You Love Them
19. Just Be Dad at Home - The Office can wait
20. Don't Spend So Much Time Yelling at Officials
21.  Stress is okay - Means that it means something to you but you have to manage it.
22. Don't Stress over Stress - Read #21. Worry doesn't make it better
23. Listen to Tupac 
24. Get some "Water Therapy" - Something about time on a lake or at the beach with friends and family that is good for the soul
25. Watch a Sunrise and Sunset in the same day.
26. Eat Dessert
27. Take the TV out of your bedroom
28. Play Xbox with your kids - or whatever else they want to do
29. Trust Your Intuitions
30. Find a Mentor
31. Pray
32. Stay Humble 
33. Don't Let Your Job Title Define You
34. Stay Up Late and Get Up Early
35. Sing "Bohemian Rhapsody" by yourself and use every voice
36. Teach How, When, & Why for each basketball skill
37. Take A Chance
38. Most Things Aren't As Bad As You Think They Are
39. Think - But Don't Over-Think -That leads to #22
40. Smile Like Slykhuis