HOW THE UNIVERSE CONNECTED MY FAMILY WITH THE FAMOUS BEAMERS COACHING COINCIDENCE? I THINK NOT!
SELF-HELP BOOKS CAN’T DO IT ALL
HOW READING FICTION CAN BENEFIT YOU
Many CEOs and other successful individuals continually espouse the benefits of regular reading. Many times, leaders read self- help books to improve their leadership skills and become more successful.
This is all well and good, but even the most successful people in the world could be missing out on the unique benefits that come specifically from reading fiction. But what are those benefits exactly? GREATER EMPATHY When a psychologist analyzed 86 functioning MRI (fMRI) studies, he found that the same parts of the brain that fire up when reading fictional stories also fire up when we’re seeking to understand the thoughts and feelings of others. That’s because when the characters in the book we’re reading are thinking or feeling a certain way, we tend to think or feel that way with them. LESS STRESS AND BETTER SLEEP When we read fiction specifically, we tend to disengage from the world — and that’s a good thing! Our brains can’t always be functioning at their peak capacity. We need breaks, or else we’ll stress ourselves out and negatively affect other areas of our lives. Stress tends to keep us from sound sleep, but reading fiction before bed engages the imagination, taking us away from the stresses of everyday life before we drift off. MORE COMFORT WITH UNCERTAINTY Even though many stories (particularly those portrayed in popular movies) have nice happy endings, most people would agree that life sometimes leaves things a little more open-ended. While this fact might stress out some people, researchers have discovered that fiction readers don’t need “cognitive closure” as much as nonfiction readers. GREATER HAPPINESS Even if none of the benefits of fiction interest you, everyone wants to find ways to make themselves happy — and for many, that is reading fiction. According to one survey, 76% of participants said that reading makes them feel good and improves their lives. So, what are you waiting for? Dust off that novel you’ve been meaning to read and crack it open!
When I learned that Oct. 6 is National Coaches Day (yes, it’s a real thing), my mind immediately jumped back to my younger years and all the great coaches I had as a kid playing baseball, basketball, and football. But I also thought about some of the more well-known coaches I’ve cheered on over the years. As a Washington Football Team fan, Joe Gibbs is one of my all- time favorites. And, as a Hokie, I am (of course) a big fan of Frank Beamer. When I was a student at Virginia Tech, I remember as a freshman going to my first football games in Lane Stadium on Virginia Tech’s beautiful campus. I would see Coach Beamer — then in his mid-40’s — walking the sideline. Always behind him carrying a clipboard or the wire to his headset would be his 10-year old son, little Shane Beamer. Fast forward to the present, and I can’t ignore the irony of things. My son, Andrew, is now a senior at the University of South Carolina. And, as you may know, the Gamecocks’ new head football coach is none other than Shane Beamer who, like his dad back when I was in school, is now in his 40s. The same 10-year old kid who I watched walk Virginia Tech’s sideline with his dad is now a head coach at an SEC school where my son is a student. I was so excited to see that Shane Beamer was hired to lead the Gamecocks that, in early September, I made the trip to South Carolina just to sit in the stands with my son and witness Shane’s first game as the Gamecock’s head coach. We had a great time, and the Gamecocks beat their opponent into the dust! I look forward to enjoying this additional connection my family now has to the Beamers, and I’m looking forward to great things from the newest Coach Beamer.
–Kevin Mottley
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