JUGHEADS
Youth Juggling Company, LLC
5905 Concord Avenue
Edina, MN 55424
jugheads@comcast.net
612.229.3348

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February 2009

“Nobody Can Coach Desire”

One of the paradoxes of (my) life is the dichotomy between laziness and productivity. On the one hand, I'm a naturally lazy person who often likes nothing more than a free day...sleeping in...the illusion of no responsibilities...eating & lounging at will...no exercising...etc. On the other hand, I like to make the most of my time...set and accomplish goals...exercise six day a week...initiate calls and emails to family & friends...and measure my progress in innumerable areas of personal and professional improvement.

To put this dichotomy (of mine) in the context of my direct work with the Jugheads, I sometimes enjoy days where demands on my time are minimal...no one seems to need help...and the kids are content with extra long snack time and/or time to play basketball or just chat. However, I am personally more fulfilled by being productive with students who desire to improve­-rather than merely being a supervisor of kids running around or taking lots of time to examine their i-Pods between juggling runs (if they're juggling at all). In the movie "Prefontaine," Coach Bill Bowerman tells the world-famous runner, "Nobody can coach desire, Pre." Similarly, Coaches Scott, Billy, Jon and I can't make a Jughead want to juggle and improve, even if we can offer all the technique, creativity, and inspiration in the world. Human nature may have a penchant to minimize effort and avoid hard work, but I believe it's also in our blueprints to crave self-improvement. A Twin Cities Marathon shirt put it very well: "Never Stop Challenging Yourself." May Jugheads of every ability level have the desire and self-challenge to have a great 2nd half of the school year.