Saturday, August 19, 2023

D.L. Gardner: Choose Wisely

 This past Sunday our church, First Baptist Church of Starkville, hosted the Mississippi State University football team. Our pastor, Andy Brown interviewed Coach Tommy Bowden who was our guest speaker. Of course they began talking about football stories from the legendary Bowden family. Some time during the interview Coach Bowden began talking about the importance of making good decisions. 

Everybody knows about bad decisions, and Bowden recounted some more or less recent poor decisions within the college football community and how much they had cost players and coaches. Then he gave criteria he uses to guide himself when making decisions: discipline, commitment, accountability, responsibility, and sacrifice. 

We’re beginning a new year at MSU and the signs are all around us. A lot of decisions have already gone into students’ choosing to come here. The first few weeks of classes are critical for students to lay a solid foundation for succeeding over the long run.

Transitioning into any new phase of life is easier when we consider our decisions carefully. Time management is likely the biggest challenge for college students. Good routines or habits lead to good results. Sleeping late or pursuing new activities and interests at the expense of studying are not academically productive. Students who can discipline themselves into developing academically productive time will also lead them to enjoying free time without a nagging sense of anxiety. 

We hear it all of the time: some people just can’t make a commitment. That’s true. Nevertheless, committing to making a good decision and sticking with it are key to improving one’s decision-making. For whatever reasons, today’s younger generations generally value commitment less than older generations. There are more ways to get out of commitments today, unfortunately. On a positive note, those who learn to keep commitments will likely learn other positive values too. 

And, who is accountable today? It’s a rare thing for people to be accountable for bad decisions. We all make bad decisions and the urge is almost always there to deflect blame elsewhere. Deflecting blame to someone or something else is always a bad decision. It’s the coverup that gets us in the end. Perhaps that’s why those who are accountable stand out as trustworthy leaders. 

Responsibility is one of those disciplines that gets into the minutiae, i.e. the little things make big differences. Can one be trusted? The Bible teaches that one who is trustworthy in small things can be trusted with bigger responsibilities. Responsibility is a decision in itself. We choose not only to do things right, but more so to do the right things.  

Every good decision-maker knows decisions require sacrifices because we always have multiple choices at play. Can I commit to this and still do that? Think about our veterans who made the decision to enlist knowing they would be called on to sacrifice something. The most revered people among us are those who have sacrificed something for the benefit of others. Sacrificial giving is a universally admirable trait. 

Coach Bowden offered our football players and other students valuable advice regarding making good decisions. Some of our older folks benefited too! Life is filled with an ever growing number of choices and decisions that affect a multitude of people whether we realize it now or later. Choose wisely. 


Daniel L. Gardner is a columnist who lives in Starkville, MS. You may contact him at PJandMe2@gmail.com.



6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Work hard, exercise discipline, be accountable, think before you act...ah forget it. This is just more right wing, MAGA rhetoric from Gardner.

FU said...

@3:27
From someone who doesn’t believe in hrd work, discipline, and accountability - now that’s a republican.

Anonymous said...

" For whatever reasons, today’s younger generations generally value commitment less than older generations."

This is the only sentence in the article in which I disagree. Its an over-generalization, and probably could have been worded differently, such as "Some people say, todays' younger...". Otherwise, its a very good article and full of of wise advice. Good job, Mr. Gardner.

Anonymous said...

Thanks Coach Bowden for inspiring DL's first cogent article.

Anonymous said...

Sad, but true, it's so easy to criticize someone else's advice, rather to examine yourself to get some good from it and then humbly stay silent, isn't it.

Anonymous said...

What a ridiculous way to spend a church service. Preach the Gospel. Don’t have people come in for TED talks.


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Trollfest '07 was such a success that Jackson Jambalaya will once again host Trollfest '09. Catch this great event which will leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Othor Cain and his band, The Black Power Structure headline the night while Sonjay Poontang returns for an encore performance. Former Frank Melton bodyguard Marcus Wright makes his premier appearance at Trollfest singing "I'm a Sweet Transvestite" from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Kamikaze will sing his new hit, “How I sold out to da Man.” Robbie Bell again performs: “Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be Bells” and “Any friend of Ed Peters is a friend of mine”. After the show, Ms. Bell will autograph copies of her mug shot photos. In a salute to “Dancing with the Stars”, Ms. Bell and Hinds County District Attorney Robert Smith will dance the Wango Tango.

Wrestling returns, except this time it will be a Battle Royal with Othor Cain, Ben Allen, Kim Wade, Haley Fisackerly, Alan Lange, and “Big Cat” Donna Ladd all in the ring at the same time. The Battle Royal will be in a steel cage, no time limit, no referee, and the losers must leave town. Marshand Crisler will be the honorary referee (as it gives him a title without actually having to do anything).


Meet KIM Waaaaaade at the Entergy Tent. For five pesos, Kim will sell you a chance to win a deed to a crack house on Ridgeway Street stuffed in the Howard Industries pinata. Don't worry if the pinata is beaten to shreds, as Mr. Wade has Jose, Emmanuel, and Carlos, all illegal immigrants, available as replacements for the it. Upon leaving the Entergy tent, fig leaves will be available in case Entergy literally takes everything you have as part of its Trollfest ticket price adjustment charge.

Donna Ladd of The Jackson Free Press will give several classes on learning how to write. Smearing, writing without factchecking, and reporting only one side of a story will be covered. A donation to pay their taxes will be accepted and she will be signing copies of their former federal tax liens. Ms. Ladd will give a dramatic reading of her two award-winning essays (They received The Jackson Free Press "Best Of" awards.) "Why everything is always about me" and "Why I cover murders better than anyone else in Jackson".

In the spirit of helping those who are less fortunate, Trollfest '09 adopts a cause for which a portion of the proceeds and donations will be donated: Keeping Frank Melton in his home. The “Keep Frank Melton From Being Homeless” booth will sell chances for five dollars to pin the tail on the jackass. John Reeves has graciously volunteered to be the jackass for this honorable excursion into saving Frank's ass. What's an ass between two friends after all? If Mr. Reeves is unable to um, perform, Speaker Billy McCoy has also volunteered as when the word “jackass” was mentioned he immediately ran as fast as he could to sign up.


In order to help clean up the legal profession, Adam Kilgore of the Mississippi Bar will be giving away free, round-trip plane tickets to the North Pole where they keep their bar complaint forms (which are NOT available online). If you don't want to go to the North Pole, you can enjoy Brant Brantley's (of the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance) free guided tours of the quicksand field over by High Street where all complaints against judges disappear. If for some reason you are unable to control yourself, never fear; Judge Houston Patton will operate his jail where no lawyers are needed or allowed as you just sit there for minutes... hours.... months...years until he decides he is tired of you sitting in his jail. Do not think Judge Patton is a bad judge however as he plans to serve free Mad Dog 20/20 to all inmates.

Trollfest '09 is a pet-friendly event as well. Feel free to bring your dog with you and do not worry if your pet gets hungry, as employees of the Jackson Zoo will be on hand to provide some of their animals as food when it gets to be feeding time for your little loved one.

Relax at the Fox News Tent. Since there are only three blonde reporters in Jackson (being blonde is a requirement for working at Fox News), Megan and Kathryn from WAPT and Wendy from WLBT will be on loan to Fox. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both and a torn-up Obama yard sign will entitle you to free drinks served by Megan, Wendy, and Kathryn. Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required. Just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '09 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.


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Trollfest '07

Jackson Jambalaya is the home of Trollfest '07. Catch this great event which promises to leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Sonjay Poontang and his band headline the night with a special steel cage, no time limit "loser must leave town" bout between Alan Lange and "Big Cat"Donna Ladd following afterwards. Kamikaze will perform his new song F*** Bush, he's still a _____. Did I mention there was no referee? Dr. Heddy Matthias and Lori Gregory will face off in the undercard dueling with dangling participles and other um, devices. Robbie Bell will perform Her two latest songs: My Best Friends are in the Media and Mama's, Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to be George Bell. Sid Salter of The Clarion-Ledger will host "Pin the Tail on the Trial Lawyer", sponsored by State Farm.

There will be a hugging booth where in exchange for your young son, Frank Melton will give you a loooong hug. Trollfest will have a dunking booth where Muhammed the terrorist will curse you to Allah as you try to hit a target that will drop him into a vat of pig grease. However, in the true spirit of Separate But Equal, Don Imus and someone from NE Jackson will also sit in the dunking booth for an equal amount of time. Tom Head will give a reading for two hours on why he can't figure out who the hell he is. Cliff Cargill will give lessons with his .80 caliber desert eagle, using Frank Melton photos as targets. Tackleberry will be on hand for an autograph session. KIM Waaaaaade will be passing out free titles and deeds to crackhouses formerly owned by The Wood Street Players.

If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.

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