What A Dying Coach Taught Me About Living
LESSONS FROM A COACH WITH CANCER
This is a tough story to tell, so bear with me.
A little over a year ago now, I promised a dying coach that I would share his story with the world.
He lived an extraordinary life, influencing many others along the way, and he also went through some huge challenges — not the least of which was the cancer that took his life in the end.
I sat with him many times while he underwent treatment, hearing him recount his challenges & successes over breakfast, and he shared with me what he learned from each. Bails, as he was known to everyone, was a great teacher of football. But he also taught young men about things that were bigger than the game as well.
And he was no different even in his final days.
Each time we talked, he touched on what football — or any sport — can teach you: about life, about learning, about leadership. And, eventually, about loss.
It’s taken a bit longer than expected, but I’ve finally finished the manuscript of a book that hopefully does justice to coach Dean Bailey’s story. Over the next couple of months, I’ll be posting a series of excerpts from the book — only short snippets of course, but I’ll try and share the lessons he passed on to me from his hospital bed just before he died.
What he taught me in those last few months of his life literally changed mine, and I hope his story can do the same for others, too.
Author’s Note: All of the proceeds from sales of the book will go to his wife, Caron, and two sons, Darcy & Mitchell, so please forgive me if you see more than a few posts over the next month or two about Bails & the book as it moves towards being published and launched.
The more people it reaches and resonates with, the more it can do for both his family and his legacy — so feel free to recommend, like or share if any of the lessons resonates with you personally.
You can follow the full story or just register your support at www.BreakfastWithBails.com
