Marissa is on a leave of abscence today and so we are posting a previously posted blog.  Enjoy!

I’ve pretty much always loved baseball, as well as most sports, and country music. Until recently, no one really knew of my love for these things. Somehow, when I was a kid I got this funny idea that if I liked these things no one else would like me. This is a weird thing, I know…but that’s what I thought.

I’m guessing that this funny idea came from the fact that during a particularly impressionable time in my childhood the people around me just weren’t into baseball, most other sports, or country music. I’m not quite sure how this idea, that if I liked these I would be rejected, stuck with me but it was so important to me to fit in that I suppressed my love of baseball, most other sports, and country music.

Thankfully in recent months, I have slowly allowed myself to love these things for real and spend time learning about and listening to them choosing not to care too much about what other people thought. I created a Taylor Swift station on Pandora Radio and listen to it often. I purchased a Tampa Bay Rays hat and wear it almost everywhere. I watched part of the World Series on television and a handful of college football games when my schedule allowed. I embraced without reservation the fact that in my Athletic Training major I get to associate with athletes on almost a daily basis. I started going to more of their games.

And do you know what? My family didn’t kick me out for liking different things than they do and have still supported me with my love of sports and country. My friends still talk to me and I’ve made dozens of new ones just by possessing these interests more openly. I now know way more about baseball, which I love learning about. I like country music more than I ever thought I would now that I know more songs and artists, and most of all I love my life way more by being myself.

So whatever part of you there is that you might be scared to admit and share, I say go for it! You will be so much happier being true to yourself and those who really love you will love you still. I know…I tried it. There is such an invigorating feeling that comes when we choose to be who we really are and want to be. Whether it’s baseball and country music or flamingos and parasailing, I say go for it. Live your life fully and completely going confidently in the directions where you find joy.

How will you show others how awesome you are by being true to yourself this week?

If you haven’t figured it out yet…one of my favorite things to blog about is baseball. Everything from the national anthem to the final strike out fills me with a sense of pride and gratitude to be there witnessing such a fun game. I love the steps of a proper pitch and the graceful slides to reach a base in time. I love the form and strength that the players show. I even eat some sunflower seeds. To me, it’s so much more than a game-I’m not obsessed, just a good fan-because I see what those players have put so much into. They have spent hours upon hours perfecting their skills and becoming the best that they can, and I love that! Often when I’m sitting there watching, I realize just how lucky I am to really be sitting there-me-personally being able to wholeheartedly enjoy one of my favorite things of all time. My life is so awesome. Sometimes it seems like the opposite is true though…; each day of our lives, we have the choice to notice everything that is wrong or amiss or to focus on the constant good things that can be found with just a little bit of effort. Yours and my life both have stress and drama and misfortunes…everybody does. But we also have oodles upon oodles of blessings to enjoy if we just take the time to find them. My life is a whole lot happier when I spend time watching baseball games, listening to some good ol’ country music and doing countless other things that I love. Now is the time to fill your days with goodness and find a little less to complain about….even in the hardest of times.

I’ve pretty much always loved baseball, as well as most sports, and country music. Until recently, no one really knew of my love for these things. Somehow, when I was a kid I got this funny idea that if I liked these things no one else would like me. This is a weird thing, I know…but that’s what I thought.

I’m guessing that this funny idea came from the fact that during a particularly impressionable time in my childhood the people around me just weren’t into baseball, most other sports, or country music. I’m not quite sure how this idea, that if I liked these I would be rejected, stuck with me but it was so important to me to fit in that I suppressed my love of baseball, most other sports, and country music.

Thankfully in recent months, I have slowly allowed myself to love these things for real and spend time learning about and listening to them choosing not to care too much about what other people thought. I created a Taylor Swift station on Pandora Radio and listen to it often. I purchased a Tampa Bay Rays hat and wear it almost everywhere. I watched part of the World Series on television and a handful of college football games when my schedule allowed. I embraced without reservation the fact that in my Athletic Training major I get to associate with athletes on almost a daily basis. I started going to more of their games.

And do you know what? My family didn’t kick me out for liking different things than they do and have still supported me with my love of sports and country. My friends still talk to me and I’ve made dozens of new ones just by possessing these interests more openly. I now know way more about baseball, which I love learning about. I like country music more than I ever thought I would now that I know more songs and artists, and most of all I love my life way more by being myself.

So whatever part of you there is that you might be scared to admit and share, I say go for it! You will be so much happier being true to yourself and those who really love you will love you still. I know…I tried it. There is such an invigorating feeling that comes when we choose to be who we really are and want to be. Whether it’s baseball and country music or flamingos and parasailing, I say go for it. Live your life fully and completely going confidently in the directions where you find joy.

How will you show others how awesome you are by being true to yourself this week?

While watching the ending of a Major League Baseball game I noticed something I hadn’t seen before now.  Growing up, I hadn’t watched many baseball games on TV so I wasn’t familiar with the way things wrap up.  Concluding the final strike there was a great excitement coming from the winning team heading in from the outfield.  Camera footage was just close enough that I could see some of the interaction between the players.  Glee shone brightly on their faces.  They had sailed into a beautiful victory they had worked hard to earn.  Excellent sportsmanship was clear as they high fived each other and walked back together.  I loved watching the pride in their eyes and made up in my head what they might have been saying to one another:

“Great hit man!”

“That was the best throw I’ve seen from you this season.” 

“We did it!”  

There is such a sense of belonging that comes from being part of a team that always amazes and impresses me.  They support each other, they care about each other, and when someone goes down they are all there to help pick their teammate up.

When do we care for others this way?  Do we show this love for the people we care about?  I believe that there is a special bond between those we love and those who love us.  In our families, in our classes, in our churches, and in our communities there are people to care for–all around us.  Do we show care like those players did on the field?