The first rule

I remember as if it were yesterday, the warm late summer weather of 1988. for most of the entire month of august, we had been practicing two a day football drills, preparing for the upcoming season. The first day of my senior year was exciting, thinking this was it, the end of school. I entered the classroom of Mr James White, unaware that this class would be more valuable to me than any other I have had in my life. after the bell rang, class began. Mr White was a tall bearded man who spoke eloquently, which was strange in the southern part of West Virginia. He introduced himself, stated that he would be tough, and that there was one rule we should remember. he walked to the board and wrote "life is not fair." A simple enough statement, one that was easy to remember, and short. He then handed out the books we were to use and began teaching. Every so often the rule would come up daily, when a student was late, didn't turn in a assignment on time, or just felt they were being unjustly treated. He would explain to them as he did on the first day, that the assignments are posted, you will be given sufficient time, and that you are expected to be in class on time. Needless to say, the inevitable "that's not fair !" would be uttered, or whined. to which he replied, "Rule number one." This rule is in essence strange, since it implies that life will not be fair, yet it is the fairest rule I have ever heard. Even as an adult I have to constantly remind myself of the rule. When things go bad, when I am mistreated, or when I feel life is not being fair to me, rule number one is there to help me understand that things are as they are, and sometimes can not be changed. Once you accept this nugget of wisdom it opens up a world of possibilities before you, one in which you can accomplish many things, as long as you never forget the first rule.