Billy Mills - Lessons of a Lakota: A Young Mans Journey to Happiness and Self-Understanding

Mills Triumphs! Praise for Lessons of a Lakota

Billy Mills has a winner overwhelming and insightful.

Peter Ueberroth, director, 1984 Olympics

In [Lessons of a Lakota] Billy offers a powerful picture of the meaning of life. It will have a great impact on all Americans.

Al Neuharth, founder, USA Today

The reflections he writes about are wonderful. His values, knowledge, and dreams are enlightening to anyone and well worth reading.

Pat Hingle, actor

His message is one that will benefit anyone who listens.

George Young, four-time Olympian

Billy tells us a story about the important lessons of physical, emotional, and spiritual strength. It is from the heart, beautiful, filled with wisdom and truth.
York Onnen, director of program development, Presidents Council, Physical Fitness and Sports

Billy is an inspiration. In [Lessons of a Lakota], he shares his insights on life that make him so successful and a role model for all people.

John Echohawk, executive director, Native American Rights Fund

Billys experience in life prepared him well to write on this subject. He has seen and lived as an Indian in a white world and now shares his secrets of success with the rest of us.

Ollan Cassell, executive director, TAC

Billy inspired us with a last-second victory in the 10K at the 1964 Olympic Games. Now, 25 years later, he inspires again, winning a second gold medal with his book [Lessons of a Lakota].

Bud Greenspan, president, Cappy Productions

Billy Mills, the athlete, has always been a hero of mine. Billy Mills, the man, will inspire you as he has inspired me.

Robby Benson, actor

The story of Davids journey to happiness will change your life. Its a must! Billy has done it again. Hes a winner!

Patricia McCormick, two-time Olympian, gold medalist

Billy Mills entertained us with his thrilling victory at the 1964 Olympics. Now with this book, hes giving millions the chance to be entertained again.

Bob Seagren, Olympic gold medalist, pole vault

Billy is an inspiration. In [Lessons of a Lakota], he shares his secrets that make you more optimistic, determined, positive and confident about yourself and the things you strive to be.

Connie Stevens, entertainer

Hay House Titles of Related Interest

AMERICAN INDIAN PROPHECIES: Conversations with Chasing Deer, by Kurt Kaltreider, Ph.D.

FROM THE HEART OF A GENTLE BROTHER, by Bartholomew

INFINITE SELF: 33 Steps to Reclaiming Your Inner Power, by Stuart Wilde

THE JOURNEY HOME: A Kryon Parable, by Lee Carroll

THE LOVE AND POWER JOURNAL: A Workbook for the Fine Art of Living, by Lynn V. Andrews

PRACTICAL SPIRITUALITY, by John Randolph Price

All of the above are available at your local bookstore, or may be ordered by visiting:
Hay House USA: www.hayhouse.com
Hay House Australia: www.hayhouse.com.au
Hay House UK: www.hayhouse.co.uk
Hay House South Africa: hayhouse.co.za
Hay House India: www.hayhouse.co.in

Copyright 1990, 2005 by Billy Mills

Published and distributed in the United States by: Hay House, Inc.: www.hayhouse.com Published and distributed in Australia by: Hay House Australia Pty. Ltd.: www.hayhouse.com.au Published and distributed in the United Kingdom by: Hay House UK, Ltd.: www.hayhouse.co.uk Published and distributed in the Republic of South Africa by: Hay House SA (Pty), Ltd.: orders@psdprom.co.za Distributed in Canada by: Raincoast: www.raincoast.com Published in India by: Hay House Publishers India: www.hayhouseindia.co.in

Editorial Supervision: Jill Kramer Design: Jenny Richards Illustrations: Jennifer Harper

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced by any mechanical, photographic, or electronic process, or in the form of a phonographic recording; nor may it be stored in a retrieval system, transmitted, or otherwise be copied for public or private useother than for fair use as brief quotations embodied in articles and reviews without prior written permission of the publisher. The intent of the authors is only to offer information of a general nature to help you in your quest for emotional and spiritual well-being. In the event you use any of the information in this book for yourself, which is your constitutional right, the author and the publisher assume no responsibility for your actions.

This book was originally published under the title Wokini (Orion Books, 1990; Hay House, 1999): ISBN: 1-56170-660-4, and has been catalogued by the Library of Congress.

Library of Congress Control Number: 2001012345

ISBN 13: 978-1-4019-0565-1
ISBN 10: 1-4019-0565-X

09 08 07 06 5 4 3 2
1st printing, June 2005
2nd printing, November 2006

Printed in the United States of America

To Jill Sparks.
Her smile always filled my heart with joy.

O ver the years, I have had the opportunity to know and love many people. Together, weve shared our lives, good times and bad. I would like to take this opportunity to thank a number of people who mean very much to me.

To Patricia
My friend, my companion,
my lover and my wife.

To my daughters and grandchildren
I hope all their wishes come true.

To my brothers and sisters
Who were always there
when I needed them.

To my father
Whose spirit still guides me.

To the Lakota Elders
Who helped me understand
the spirituality in my life.

To Nick and Cathy
My co-writer and his wife.
We are friends forever.

To all of you.
I hope this book helps you
come to know yourselves.

Billy Mills

T his book teaches you about yourself, shows you what it means to be happy, and leads you on your own personal journey to feel more satisfied in your life. This book blends traditional Native American beliefs (which rely on meditation, thoughts, dreams, and love of natures beauty) with modern therapeutic principles (positive thinking and an understanding of happiness), and is already helping hundreds of thousands of people across the country.

Lessons of a Lakota is an easily read allegory that shows you practical steps for improving every aspect of your life. As the story unfolds, youll discover the myths associated with happiness, and learn the meaning of happiness and why its important to be happy. Once you understand yourself, the book shows you a simple method to be happy whenever you want to be. It teaches you a powerful form of traditional meditation and guides you through ten outlooks that will make you a wiser, better, more loving person. By the books conclusion, you will have learned a little bit about the Native American way of life, you will have come to understand yourself better, and youll know some secrets about improving your life.