Three Strikes & NOT Out!

84-year-old Jim Clyburn, the political warrior and congressman for over 30 years, talked about losing three times prior to getting finally elected. Before he ultimately succeeded as a candidate, friends told him to quit trying because of his losing streak. Clyburn responded, “baseball rules are NOT the rules of life!” What a great guideline for living!

The history books covering all walks of life are filled with examples of people refusing to bow to the “three strike” rule, or other made up rules to limit us. People who get in the game try, fail, try, fail, and always learn. They continuously propel forward to make themselves better.

There are people that sit on the sidelines, and those that get in the arena and mix it up. We know this, however it is seductive to sit back, watch and to criticize from the cheap seats. It is less risky, and easier to judge others. Safe. Easy. And unremarkable.

The people making a difference to themselves and others have to become vulnerable and take reasonable risks. It’s not the jump as they say, it’s the landing!

I was listening to a group of seven to 10 year old kids that were given permission by their parents to join in free, unsupervised play in their neighborhood. One of the kids noted that it was possible to break a leg jumping from the tree house they built, yet noted that the biggest danger was actually building the playhouse. They also noted that the van they saw in the lane behind their tree house, play area, was likely the mafia out to get them. They laughed about how they outsmarted their foe. They were learning to play, not just watch, meant taking risks too.

The point is about taking reasonable risk and minimizing FEAR (false expectations appearing real). Yes, we will strike out lots AND also get a few hits here and there. Few of us are home run hitters, and few of us strike out every time.

I’d rather play and whiff more than sit in the stands and watch. I like my uniform dirty and elbows skinned. At least I know I played! The three strike out rule does NOT apply to life!

Think Big, Start Small, Act Now,

- Lorne

One Millennial View: You can’t help but be reminded of the Teddy Roosevelt quote, “dare mighty things.” The sidelines are so much safer, however, I know I could dare to do a few more things. Within the last six months, a new restaurant was built near me with a playground for kids. It consists of mechanical, moving wooden blocks, a stand up seesaw, and it appears to be a recipe for broken collarbones and splinters. The kids do not care. They are gleefully jumping from plank to plank, balancing while the bigger kids launch the little ones into the wood chip padded soil. The parents sip on cowboy coladas on the sidelines, casually observing a great reminder that falling, playing and daring is still ingrained in us.

- Garrett

Three Strikes & NOT Out!

Search Blog Posts:

Follow Us: