Jim Valvano: Belief in the power of laughter as well
In 1993, the world lost a great man, Jim Valvano. He was a basketball coach, a broadcaster, and an inspiration to millions. He fought a long and courageous battle with cancer, and during his final months, he delivered one of the most memorable speeches in history, known as “The Miracle of Life.”
Valvano’s speech was delivered at the first ESPY Awards ceremony on March 3, 1993. He had been awarded the Arthur Ashe Courage Award, which is given to individuals who display courage in the face of adversity. Valvano used the opportunity to deliver a powerful and inspiring message about the value of life, the importance of perseverance, and the need to embrace every moment.
Valvano began his speech by acknowledging his battle with cancer and the uncertainty of his future. He said, “Time is very precious to me. I don’t know how much I have left, and I have some things that I would like to say. Hopefully, in the end, I’ll have something that will be important to other people, too.”
Valvano then went on to talk about his experiences as a basketball coach and the lessons he had learned along the way. He spoke about the importance of setting goals and striving to achieve them, no matter how challenging they may be. He said, “Don’t give up. Don’t ever give up.”
Valvano also spoke about the power of laughter, and how it had helped him to overcome some of the most difficult moments of his life. He said, “To me, there are three things that we all should do every day. We should do this every day of our lives. Number one is laugh. You should laugh every day. Number two is to think. You should spend some time in thought. Number three is you should have your emotions moved to tears, could be happiness or joy.”
Valvano’s speech was not just about his own struggles, but about the struggles of every human being. He spoke about the value of every moment, and how important it is to appreciate the little things in life. He said, “Don’t give up. Don’t ever give up. That’s what I’m going to try to do. I’m going to try to inspire people around the world to help me do that. I will never give up, and I will never give in.”
Valvano’s speech was a call to action, a call to embrace life with all its ups and downs and to never lose hope. He inspired millions of people with his message, and his legacy lives on to this day.
The Miracle of Life is more than just a speech, it is a way of life. It is a reminder that every moment is precious and that we should never take life for granted. It is a call to action to make the most of every opportunity, to never give up, and to always strive for greatness.
Valvano’s words continue to inspire people around the world, and his legacy lives on through the V Foundation for Cancer Research, which he founded before his death. The foundation has raised millions of dollars for cancer research and has helped to save countless lives.
The Miracle of Life is a powerful and inspiring message that reminds us of the value of life, the importance of perseverance, and the need to embrace every moment. Jim Valvano’s words continue to inspire us today, and his legacy lives on through the work of the V Foundation. As he said in his speech, “Don’t give up. Don’t ever give up.”
Sources:
- https://youtu.be/SHKzH6zR8xE
- https://nypost.com/2022/07/21/dick-vitale-gives-emotional-speech-gets-jimmy-v-award-at-espys/
- https://www.espnfrontrow.com/2014/12/tbt-the-classic-jimmy-v/
- https://chat.openai.com/
- https://readloud.net
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