Sue and I were facilitating a community forum recently.

Swings and a Slide

Over 100 people of all ages were there to talk about the use of a small public park.

Sue was followed around by a little girl about 3-years-old and in a moment of inspiration Sue asked her what she wanted to see in the park.

She said, ‘Swings and a slide’.

The other night I saw a wonderful example of fair dinkum (real) leadership.

I watched an U/14 basketball team train and the  coach, about 20 years of age, ran a 4v4 drill.

Although the players were tired from the demanding exercise they stilll gave it their best.

Here’s why.

The coach was;

• engaged
• in control
• enthusiastic
• positive
• focused
• knowledgeable
• confident

While watching the coach in action it took me back a few decades to when I was coaching basketball.

I learned early in my coaching career that to lead and inspire people to do their best you have to be fair dinkum.

So the next time you are leading a group of people, ask yourself the following question.

Am I fair dinkum?

Here is a lovely clip of actor Brian Cox teaching a toddler Shakespeare.

Click here to view the embedded video.

I was watching the NBA game between Portland Trailblazers and Oklahoma City Thunder and discovered this inspirational vision.

I thought it was live but found out later it happened three years ago.

It’s a clip of former national baksetball association star player, Maurice Cheeks, helping out a young girl.

All I could say while watching this inspirational piece was ‘Good on you, Cheeks’.

Click here to view the embedded video.

When I was 20 years old I thought;

• 30 was old

• 40 was ancient

• over 50, well so long, nice knowing you

Now that I’m over 50 my attitude has changed since my ‘younger days’ .

Age is something that I don’t often think about and it is no barrier to maintaining or starting a new hobby as long as I stay healthy.

In my day (gee, I’m sounding old) I’ve met many young old people and old young people.

I’d rather stay young old than just give up and wait until I keel over.

And to help me do that I  look  for inspiration from young old people who are engaged and enjoy life, regardless of their age.

Here’s a young old person that inspires me.

It’s  Larry Storch (F Troop – 60′s hit tv series) doing standup comedy at the old young age of 85.

Click here to view the embedded video.

One of my all time favourite songs is Ben E. King’s ‘Stand By Me’. He co write the song with Jerry Leiber and Mike Stollers and released it in 1961.

Here’s the original song sung by Ben E. King.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Now listen to the international version from the award-winning documentary, “Playing For Change: Peace Through Music”.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Both are inspiring and I never get tired of listening to this song.

Just finished watching an inspiring interview with 92 year old movie actor Ernest Borgnine.

He is still active despite his age and for those who are old enough to remember Borgnine was McHale in the 1960′s television hit series McHale’s Navy.

He won an academy award for his role in ‘Marty’, 1956 and   he appeared in some of my favourite films; ‘From Here To Eternity’ with Burt Lancaster, ‘Bad Day At Black Rock’ with Spencer Tracy and ‘The Wild Bunch’ with William Holden.

More recently he appeared as the voice for the cartoon character Mermaid Man in Sponge Bob.

In the three clips below Borgnine talks about his  career and his  life.

I enjoy hearing stories  from old time movie stars but what fascinates and inspires me in this interview is Borgnine’s attitude to life.

The interview goes for about two and a half hours and if you perservere and watch them I’m sure you too will be inspired

Part One

Click here to view the embedded video.

Part Two

Part Three

Footnote: Ernest Borgnine biography – Wikipedia

One of my favourite TV shows of the early 90′s was and still is Northern Exposure.

Here’s a well written, poetic piece on ‘light’ and great visuals and song to go with it from one of the episodes.

I discovered this clip from Lawrence of TanDaoKungFu  when he posted it on twitter.

Click here to view the embedded video.