Reading Response- Never Die Easy

I just had started reading Walter Payton's Never Die Easy again, because I only had read a small amount of it 4 years ago. So far, I love this book and I hold Walter Payton to the highest respect after reading about his life. This book is an autobiography about Payton's life, but my favorite feature is that it offers written accounts of his close family members and friends as well. The beginning of the book begins with many of these accounts because the first chapter focuses on the moment Payton passed away. This part of the book is very tear-jerking because Payton was argueably one of the greatest role models in all of sports history. His family and friends constantly refer to him as "The Greatest Bear of Them All" throughout this point (since he played for the Chicago Bears). A message that Payton got across to others at this point in his life was "Live every day, every moment, to its fullest and be as gracious as you can be." His wife, Connie Payton said that that quote "Was Walter, to the very end." The first chapter of this story has had the biggest impact on my so far out of this book, stressing the importance of values and graciousness throughout your life. Walter Payton used to preach to children: "Begin with the end in mind," admonishing them to think through the consequences of their actions.
As Payton describes his upbringing, he delivers more powerful messages to the reader. He explains how his father always told him "If you start something, you shouldn't quit. If you're going to play, you might as well play to be your best." Walter also reveals how he spent most all of his youthful years just helping out his family and working. Walter was able to excel in high school and found his way playing football at Jackson State University. Along the way, he shares many life lessons he had learned while growing up through the process. FInally, Walter had made a name for himself and was drafted to the Chicago Bears in the NFL. Payton continued to follow his fathers guidelines and never gave up during his early years, when the Bears were so bad that he had no good players around him. Finally, his persistence paid off as he was able to win the Super Bowl in '85, and he also broke the NFL's all-time rushing record.
What i find the most powerful about this book is that all of his football accomplishments and stories (what most people only know him for), only take up one half of the book. The second half of the book is all about his life after the NFL and how he gave back to charities and family. That to me shows that Walter Payton does not care about the glory or fame, but the substance in relationships with others and the abilities to give back to those in need. I cannot wait to read more.