T-H-I-N-K

“There’s only one rule I know of: You’ve got to be kind.” —Kurt Vonnegut

Because we can choose to be something, choose to be kind. 

• If we're not playing as much as we'd like, own the work to play more. 
• Be a great teammate not a 'grate' teammate. 
• Don't punch down. It's a bad look. Always. 

Part of our ethos, our 'reason to be', should include the acronym THINK before we speak.

T - Is it true? 

H - Is it helpful?

I  - Is it inspiring?

N - Is it necessary? 

K - Is it kind? 

The great mathematician Carl Jacobi advised "invert, always invert" when solving problems. Consider the opposite of kindness.

• Criticizing our team, teammates, coaching. Where's the benefit?
• Taunting opponents 
• Talking trash online about opponents

There's a difference between criticism and reflection, especially concerning ourselves. Part of "The Fourth Agreement," “Always do your best," is being kind to yourself because you gave your best, which isn't always good enough to win. 

Melrose has been fortunate to win a lot - league, sectional, and a state title. What seldom gets mentioned is MVB also won the MIAA Sportsmanship Award. Be kind. 

Lagniappe. Here are the ChatGPT highlights of Ruiz's fourth agreement:

The "Fourth Agreement" in Don Miguel Ruiz’s The Four Agreements is “Always Do Your Best.” While the principle may sound simple, it carries profound depth. Doing your best isn’t about perfection; it’s about consistency, presence, and compassion for self. Here are the top five elements of this agreement:

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1. Your Best Changes From Moment to Moment

Ruiz emphasizes that your best is not a fixed standard. It fluctuates depending on factors like health, energy, stress, and life circumstances. On good days, your best may be outstanding; on difficult days, it may be simply showing up. Recognizing this prevents self-judgment and guilt.

🔹 Insight: This flexibility allows space for self-forgiveness, helping sustain long-term effort without burnout.

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2. Doing Your Best Prevents Regret

When you do your best, regardless of the outcome, you have no reason to judge yourself later. This frees you from the "what ifs" that come with half-hearted effort or procrastination.

🔹 Insight: The act of giving your full effort helps you accept results with peace, knowing you honored your responsibility.

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3. Doing Your Best is an Act of Self-Love

Striving to do your best is a way of respecting yourself. You’re not aiming to impress others but to live with integrity. It's a daily practice of affirming your own worth through action.

🔹 Insight: This transforms “doing” from a burden into a form of self-care and self-expression.

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4. Consistency Builds Mastery

When you do your best consistently—over time—you create habits that align with the other three agreements (Be impeccable with your word, Don’t take things personally, Don’t make assumptions). This repetition builds character and internal freedom.

🔹 Insight: Doing your best becomes the engine that turns abstract ideals into concrete behaviors.

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5. It Keeps You Present

When you focus on doing your best in this moment—not yesterday or tomorrow—you are drawn into the present. That presence helps reduce anxiety and distraction, enabling fuller engagement with life.

🔹 Insight: This presence is also where joy and meaning live; it’s not about performance, but being.

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Summary

Doing your best is not a benchmark of perfection—it’s a fluid, forgiving, and empowering commitment. It allows you to live without regret, builds self-respect, supports the other agreements, and keeps you anchored in the moment. It's not just advice—it's a way to live with grace.