Camp Champions Blog

I have been intrigued with the work of Dr. Laurie Santos. She teaches a course on Happiness (or Well-Being or Fulfillment – pick your term) at Yale. When she first offered it, it instantly became the most popular class there.  

She is engaging, wise and unassuming. If you get a chance, it is worth checking out her work.

The last 6 weeks or so have made me thoughtful about what I do and do not know. I am certain of this: I knew much more on February 28 than I do now. Here is an inventory of my end-of-February knowledge:

I knew that sports were frustrating.  

Yesterday, I was asked to do a 30 minute video podcast with Dr Gage Paine. Dr Paine has a PhD in Philosophy In Educational Administration and was the former VP of Student Affairs at the University of Texas. 

In 2012, we were both speakers at TEDx San Antonio. Gage spoke on the Sound of Silence and I talked about Unplugging from Social Media at Camp to help teach communication and collaboration. The host asked us to talk about how we can best communicate with each other in the age of social distancing. Our conversation is here.

Hope you enjoy the video. Please let me share a few highlights:

I try to share original thoughts, but sometimes the classics are better.

In 1993, Coach Jimmy Valvano gave a speech at the ESPY awards. In it, he describes a life well-lived. There is a sadness to the speech. He gives it knowing that his cancer will soon take him.

Here is another thought that might help in these odd times. It is a rule we have adopted in the camp office and in our home.

“You are either helping or being helped.”

I have found a thought that is helping me stay sane and centered.

Every day, I check in with a friend: 60 year-old Steve (me). 

To be clear, I am currently 55.  

This is just a short blog to clarify something critical.