The ABC’s of KC Wolf

If there is one thing Dan Meers knows, it’s that attitude is everything.

Meers, who is best known as KC Wolf, the mascot for the Kansas City Chiefs, conveyed that message Wednesday afternoon to the students at Washington Elementary at an assembly for the students and staff.

“You can’t just talk about your attitude and behavior and character, you have to practice them every day of your life,” Meers said. “And that doesn’t change when you get older, it’s something you have to do every day.”

As part of Washington’s PBS (Positive Behavior Support) plan, Meers was invited to the school by Principal Lisa Volk.

“I think Dan’s message was a great way for us to start the discussion in general with our students about their behavior and how it affects everyone,” Volk said. “His message was entertaining but it also was very important and was what we needed to start our school year.”

Meers spoke to the students at Horace Mann, Skyline and Parkview elementaries before his final appearance of the day at Washington.

“Your life is like a coin,” Meers said at the beginning of the presentation. “You can spend it anyway you wish, but you can only spend it once, so spend it wisely.

“Life is all about making choices,” he added. “There are three choices you have to decide every day to help you be your best: your attitude, your behavior and your character.”

Attitude, whether positive or negative, is how a person thinks, according to Meers.

“Your attitude is determined by how you think,” Meers told the audience. “I choose to focus on the blessings and the good things that I have in my life.

“A bad attitude is like a flat tire, you’re not going anywhere until you change it,” he added to the students’ laughter.

Meers said the way a person acts and treats other people determines one’s behavior.

“You can either be a buzzard or a bee in life,” Meers said. “Both of them fly around and look for stuff to eat and they both always find what they look for.

“Now, buzzards find the bad stuff, like roadkill, but bees seek out the sweet things in life like the honey and nectar. What I’m saying is act like the bees because it’s just as easy to look for the good, than seek the bad in life.”

In Meers’ final point, he discussed the importance of character, or the things that are inside an individual that determine who a person is.

Meers said people who succeed in life make character a high priority.

“Character is really all about who you are as a person, rather than who other people think you are,” Meers said. “They are more concerned with their character than their reputation.

“A person’s reputation is precious,” he added. “A person’s character is priceless.”

Before speaking to the students, Meers told the Democrat that in the last 27 years of portraying KC Wolf he has learned many personal lessons.

“Last year I was at more than 500 events, and I know I personally did 300 or more of those,” Meers said. “I have a few people who help me but I been very blessed in my work and I enjoy the opportunities I have been given.

“This summer I spent a week in Haiti on a mission trip and I know that it (KC Wolf) was something many of those children would never have the opportunity to see if we did not go,” he added. “I gave them the same message that I have been teaching my three children all their lives and all the children I speak to — be positive, treat people with respect and always live a life of character.”

KC Wolf listens to the laughter of the students at Washington Elementary on Wednesday afternoon before speaking to the children and staff at the school on the ABC’s of Success. Dan Meers has been portraying KC Wolf for the last 27 years. He commented that the best part of his job are the children and people he meets.

http://sedaliademocrat.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/web1_tsd090116kcwolfe1.jpgKC Wolf listens to the laughter of the students at Washington Elementary on Wednesday afternoon before speaking to the children and staff at the school on the ABC’s of Success. Dan Meers has been portraying KC Wolf for the last 27 years. He commented that the best part of his job are the children and people he meets. Hope Lecchi | Democrat

Dan Meers holds the head to the KC Wolf costume while speaking to students at Washington Elementary on Wednesday afternoon. Meers began his career as Truman the Tiger during his education at the University of Missouri. He then worked as Fred Bird, the mascot for the St. Louis Cardinals, before accepting the job as KC Wolf.

http://sedaliademocrat.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/web1_tsd090116kcwolfe2.jpgDan Meers holds the head to the KC Wolf costume while speaking to students at Washington Elementary on Wednesday afternoon. Meers began his career as Truman the Tiger during his education at the University of Missouri. He then worked as Fred Bird, the mascot for the St. Louis Cardinals, before accepting the job as KC Wolf. Hope Lecchi | Democrat

KC Wolf strikes a pose before beginning an assembly at Washington Elementary on Wednesday afternoon. Dan Meers, who portrays KC Wolf, spoke at four elementary schools in the Sedalia School District 200 — Horace Mann, Skyline, Parkview and Washington. He talked to the students at Washington about the ABC’s of Success.

http://sedaliademocrat.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/web1_tsd090116kcwolfe3.jpgKC Wolf strikes a pose before beginning an assembly at Washington Elementary on Wednesday afternoon. Dan Meers, who portrays KC Wolf, spoke at four elementary schools in the Sedalia School District 200 — Horace Mann, Skyline, Parkview and Washington. He talked to the students at Washington about the ABC’s of Success. Hope Lecchi | Democrat

Dan Meers, aka KC Wolf, seeks a handshake from students at Washington Elementary Wednesday afternoon. Meers told the students people who succeed make character a high priority.

http://sedaliademocrat.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/web1_tsd090116kcwolfe4.jpgDan Meers, aka KC Wolf, seeks a handshake from students at Washington Elementary Wednesday afternoon. Meers told the students people who succeed make character a high priority. Hope Lecchi | Democrat

Dan Meers waves to students across the cafeteria while he takes a break before speaking to the students at Washington Elementary Wednesday afternoon. Meers told the students life is about making choices and they should always strive to be positive and make good choices throughout their entire lives.

http://sedaliademocrat.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/web1_tsd090116kcwolfe5.jpgDan Meers waves to students across the cafeteria while he takes a break before speaking to the students at Washington Elementary Wednesday afternoon. Meers told the students life is about making choices and they should always strive to be positive and make good choices throughout their entire lives. Hope Lecchi | Democrat

KC Wolf, portrayed by Dan Meers, looks at his audience of Washington Elementary students and staff before speaking to them on the ABC’s of Success. Meers has been portraying KC for 27 years, traveling around the United States and the world offering a message of remaining positive and looking for the best in one’s self and others throughout life.

http://sedaliademocrat.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/web1_tsd090116kcwolfe6.jpgKC Wolf, portrayed by Dan Meers, looks at his audience of Washington Elementary students and staff before speaking to them on the ABC’s of Success. Meers has been portraying KC for 27 years, traveling around the United States and the world offering a message of remaining positive and looking for the best in one’s self and others throughout life. Hope Lecchi | Democrat