Relationships

My two favorite sports are baseball and golf, and they were both on display in a big way yesterday. As much as I love to play both sports, watching them being played can be equally inspiring and thrilling, especially when they exhibit the rollercoaster of ups and downs that life often brings to each of us.

I watched the FedEx Cup “Tour Championship” final round first yesterday. Two of my favorite golfers, Scottie Scheffler and Jon Rahm, who are #1 and #2 in the world were supposed to win, but both fell behind on Sunday. Instead, a young 25-year-old Norwegian, named Viktor Hovland, playing brilliantly, fought his way to the top of the leaderboard and ended up winning. When Viktor was interviewed after winning the biggest prize in golf, all he could talk about was what a great “team” he had including his caddie and coaches. He mentioned how those relationships make all the difference.

When I watched the Little League World Series, a local team from California was playing against an international team from Curacao. The team from Curacao was at the Little League Championship Game last year, and almost won it, so they were heavily favored having several returning stars on their team. But the El Segundo California also had some stars of their own including Louis Lappe, a strapping 6’-1" tall 12-year-old who could really hit. California got out to a huge lead at 5-1, but Curacao managed to get a grand slam in the 5^th inning to tie the game. Unfortunately for them Lappe stepped up to the plate in the bottom of the 6^th inning and crushed a walk off home run to win the game for El Segundo. When interviewed after the game, 12-year-old Lappe spoke about the great relationships between all the players on his team, including his coach. As he spoke, his coach was crying his eyes out standing behind Louis, and then grabbed him and hugged him tight.

And that got me thinking… I have some great relationships in my life, but I don’t always give them the credit that they are due. I think I need to make the effort to give them a huge hug too!

Shared joy is a double joy, shared sorrow is half a sorrow.

~ Swedish Proverb