I love baseball. I hope I don't lose you, as this email is less about sports and more about life. Kind of like Ted Lasso being less about soccer and more about life. And if you haven't, I hope you do. It's wonderful.
I'm not a sports person per se. Sure, we'll watch the Super Bowl, or even the showdown between the beavers and the ducks (whatever that's called these days). My son plays baseball and basketball.
Baseball is just my favorite. It's not for everyone. Not all folks can appreciate the slower pace of play. But I have seen my son learn more lessons about life through the game of baseball than he has in any other pursuit he has taken up. And by merely watching, I, too, have learned a lot about life.
These boys (5th & 6th graders) have had a great season. To say it has been fun to watch them all improve so much is an understatement. In early June, they played a tournament that had some teams that were more skilled in certain aspects of the game. They had to adapt their thinking, their style of playing, and often come back from behind to win.
That's challenging for adults to do, and these kids were able to do it. They mostly had a winning season, and a couple games that really got them stuck in their own heads. I was reflecting on the season today and realized I have three good lessons I am applying to my own life after watching these young men play baseball this season, punctuated by Ted Lasso quotes (because they just fit).
1. Negativity is the killer of forward momentum. It's easier sometimes to dwell, but it won't take you further.
"You beating yourself up is like Woody Allen playing the clarinet. I don't want to hear it."
2. Forget your mistakes, and quickly. Don't let them hold you back from moving forward.
"You know what the happiest animal on earth is? It's a goldfish. You know why? It's got a 10-second memory."
3. When all else fails, just have fun. Live life like a full count (for the uninitiated. That means 3 balls and 2 strikes).
"For me, success is not about the wins and losses. It's about helping these young fellas be the best versions of themselves on and off the field."
