There is a real desire in every human being to be approved. Everyone wants to believe they matter. And even though we say we don’t care what people think, we constantly give them the authority to validate who we are. As a result, we orchestrate our lives to please others—our boss, our spouse, our kids, our parents, our friends, even the guy we bump into at the coffee shop. The problem is, we lose sight of who we really are because we live the life that […]
Tag Archives | Baseball
A Few Things Baseball Taught Me About Life
Seasons bring with them a specific set of sights, smells, and sounds that are as rich as the memories they contain. For me, Springtime always rekindles a fond recollection of Hugh MacRae Park in my hometown of Wilmington, North Carolina. The Park, as we called it, holds a certain, special place in my heart because it is where I learned to play the game of baseball. Who knows what triggers the thoughts, but occasionally, if I pause for long enough and […]
What My Dad and Baseball Taught Me About Writing
Night has fallen and bright lights illuminate the field before me. Beyond them, the dark of night. The stands are filled with family, friends and fans cheering the two crosstown rivals facing off in the season finale. I stand in the on-deck circle as the importance of the upcoming inning flashes through my head. It’s the bottom of the last inning and we’re trailing by one run. This is our last chance. We need two runs or game over. Standing […]
Baseball and Bimini: Making Right Decisions
Baseball was a way of life. Between my brother and I playing, Mom running the concession stand, and Dad coaching and umpiring, Winter Park Optimist was our second home. I can still hear the cheers from the sidelines, smell the freshly cut grass, and taste the sweat mixed with red clay. For the first eighteen years of my life, baseball was my identity. It was what I loved. You see, my dad was a great athlete growing up, but through a rare […]