The title of Valorie Kondos Field’s book, “Life is Short, Don’t Wait to Dance,” offers wise advice, a metaphor and a tribute all at once.
The coach of UCLA’s women’s gymnastics team built her extraordinarily successful career on encouraging self-direction and being 1% better each day at a form of expression that feeds your soul. The “dance” in the title can mean actually dancing but also is a touching reference to late UCLA basketball coach John Wooden, an avid supporter of the women’s gymnastics team and a mentor to Kondos Field.
Late in his long and fruitful life, Wooden would mention one regret when asked if there was anything he hadn’t done.