“We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.” – Maya Angelou
More Maya Angelou Quotes…
Archives for June 2011
A Couple of Lessons We Can Learn from Jose Reyes
New York Mets -Jose Reyes
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Are you familiar with Jose Reyes? He plays shortstop for the New York Mets and happens to be one of the most exciting baseball players in the game right now. I’m a diehard St. Louis Cardinals fan, but the Mets are my second favorite team – and Jose Reyes is one of the reasons. He’s currently one of my favorite players and the reasons actually have nothing to do with his ridiculously high level of skill and athletic ability.
The things that make Jose Reyes a favorite in my book are simple:
- He enjoys the game.
- He’s a grinder.
Lesson #1: Enjoy Life and Never Stop Having Fun
Jose Reyes is almost always smiling and having fun. Shouldn’t we all go through life the same way? Like the St. Louis Cardinal’s phenomenal catcher, Yadier Molina, when the camera finds Reyes, more times than not he’s wearing a huge smile. If a camera followed us throughout the day, as we go about our jobs and duties, could the same be said of us? Would viewers think, “He/She is such a happy person and obviously just loves life.” Or would they think, “What a sour puss! If life’s that unpleasant for them, why do they even bother getting out of bed?”
I’ve watched Mets games when they were winning and I’ve watched Mets games when they were losing. I’ve watched Jose Reyes having one of those games when everything went right and I’ve watched Jose Reyes have one of those games when nothing went right. The smile? Always there. The guy simply loves the game, loves what he does, and (from all clues) loves life. When his teammates do well, he’s the first one there to congratulate them and offer high fives. He has an obvious passion for life and it’s contagious. When he’s playing the game and enjoying it so much, you can’t help but smile, yourself.
Again, shouldn’t we have the same effect on others? Whether our day is going our way or headed in the complete opposite direction, isn’t life worth living and isn’t it worth loving? The obvious answer is YES, but you couldn’t tell it by some people’s faces. Smile more! Enjoy life… it only comes around once.
Lesson #2: Grind it Out!
One of my favorite quotes to use on myself, as well as on those around me is, “Grind it out.” Ever since I heard an announcer praise a player who made it to first base, on an infield hit, by “grinding it out,” I’ve had a crush on the phrase and the philosophy. I first really paid attention to the phrase during a St. Louis Cardinal’s ballgame, when one of our players, somehow, beat out a throw to first. He should have, by all accounts, been the third out. I was even beginning to get up for a kitchen run when I had to sit back down. He grinded it out, regardless of how dire things looked. I can’t even remember who the player was, to be honest. He was one of those players who come up from AA, then head back down, then get their call again, etc. He was the kind you’d expect to grind it out on every play because he was trying to earn a spot.
However, with Jose Reyes, the details are insanely different. Players like Reyes, Yadier Molina, Matt Holliday, Derek Jeter, Chris Carpenter, etc. have earned their spot. There are no buses leaving for AA in the parking lot for these guys. Yet they still grind it out as though their spot depended on it.
Just last night, Jose Reyes grinded it out on the bases like he was auditioning for a spot on the team. Why? He loves the game and wants to give it his all.
If we were to take this philosophy and apply it to our own lives, I have a feeling magic would happen. If we approached each day with everything we had in us and did the things that needed to be done even when we didn’t want to…. even when we didn’t feel entirely on our game, we’d have a lot more wins and a lot fewer losses.
- Think of how our health and fitness would improve if we walked 15 minutes longer than normal – grinding it out instead of phoning it in.
- How much more money could we make if we “showed up” earlier and “clocked off” later – even if it’s just a matter of minutes? Many times, it’s the mindset that makes the difference.
- Our relationships could even become sweeter if we put more thought and energy into them.
When we’re feeling low on energy and/or incentive, if we remind ourselves to “Grind it out!,” I think we’ll begin to see changes that will rock our world.
But don’t underestimate Lesson #1: Enjoy Life and Never Stop Having Fun. I listed it first for a reason. The fact is, I think his attitude is the key to Jose Reyes’ success. Yes, he has wicked athletic skills and a great mind for the game. He’s head to toe talent. The thing is, many players are talented and many have crazy athletic skills. My husband and I watched the College Baseball world series and saw endless talent and skills, but many of these kids won’t make it to the big leagues or achieve superstar status. I believe a person’s attitude is their secret weapon. Some people, such as Jose Reyes, simply have such a positive attitude and outlook that it gives them a potent weapon!
I don’t think life is fun for Jose Reyes because he’s good at what he does – I think Jose Reyes is good at what he does because he has fun with life. Anyone who watches his games will know what I mean when I say that I’m certain this young man would wear the same smile if he was in A, AA, AAA or nowhere near the game of baseball. He has the secret 1-2 punch that would grant him success anywhere in life:
- He loves life.
- He’s a grinder.
Make each moment count double and never leave home without your smile!
Relaxing Quote of the Day
Rest is not idleness, and to lie on the grass under the trees on a summer’s day, listening to the murmur of water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is by no means a waste of time. – John Lubbock
Coping with Stress
I’m lucky when it comes to stress. I took after my dad, the most laid back Joe to ever live. So, generally-speaking, stress and I aren’t on a first name basis. However, since I am human (most of the time), I do experience stressful situations and there have been times when I’m happily chugging down life’s road, only to have stress present its ugly self in the form of a roadblock.
Hate it when that happens.
When it comes to coping with stress, naturally the best advice to give, or receive, is to avoid the things that stress you out. If you get stressed when you go shopping amongst crowds, for example, go earlier in the morning. If running late causes you to stress out, make a habit of setting your alarm clock earlier. Basically, do whatever you can do to stay one step ahead of stress.
A continued cycle of stress is ridiculously bad for your health. Studies show that stress actually WEAKENS your immune system, leaving you more vulnerable for all sorts of illnesses. Left free to roam through your life, stress also wreaks havoc on your relationships and, often, your job. Obviously, it’s imperative that you identify the things that cause you to experience stress and eliminate as many as possible. For those that can’t be entirely eliminated, find ways to deal with them. Again, stay one step ahead of your stress signals.
Also, make a point of carving out a little time each day to totally and completely relax. The great thing about scheduling this time for later in the day is that it gives you something to look forward to all day. When your to do list just keeps getting longer and has lost all sense of reason, you can smile and say, “Fine. I’ll keep working like a caffeinated maniac but when 7:00 rolls around, I”ll be on the sofa watching baseball with a Coke in one hand and popcorn in the other.”
It takes the sting out of even the vilest to do list. Trust me.
If you read my self help blog (or any of my blogs for that matter), you’ve probably already guessed what my number 1 stress buster is: PETS! Experts tell us that having a pet can help reduce blood pressure, lower cholesterol levels, and improve heart health. Pets are also excellent, excellent, stress busters. You simply cannot feel stressed while petting a cat, walking a dog, or listening to a bird sing. Before we lost our adorable dog Wednesday to old (old, old, old, old) age, he and my husband had a routine. As soon as Michael got home from work, Wednesday would perk up – he always recognized the sound of his car and heard it from a mile away. Michael would put the leash on him as Wednesday wiggled around in circles of excitement. Then off they’d go on their walk.
It was the highlight of Wednesday’s day and it seemed to help the human walker release the stress of his work day. Who can feel stressed when connected to the other end of a leash is fur-covered happiness and joy?
Cats are just as magical when it comes to releasing stress. They’re so laid back and peaceful and live in a state of zen. It’s contagious! Since I work from home, I have access to my own personal little zen generators 24/7. In the picture at the top of the post, I was on the floor playing with Alexa after a pretty stressful day. I’d roll a ball underneath the love seat and she’d swat it back. At one point, I grabbed my camera and held onto the ball just to see what she’d do. As you can see, she peeked to see what the hold up was.
One look at her expression and it was like, “Stress? What stress?”
If you’re unable to have dogs or cats, don’t think for a minute that other pet options don’t exist! Hamsters, guinea pigs (“piggies“), fish, turtles, chinchillas, parakeets, and frogs would also love to help you deal with stress. A pet’s companionship, entertainment, and most of all love is just too precious to even put into words. They give so much more than they could ever possibly take.
To read more about stress triggers, click the link.
Castles in the Sky!
“Wouldn’t it be fun if all the castles in the air which we make could come true, and we could live in them?” – From Little Women
When I began putting these quotes together, I debated with myself what to title the post: castles in the sky, castles in the air, or castles in the clouds. We’re all familiar with the beautiful and even precious concept: of having such golden dreams and aspirations that they sometimes feel like a castle in the _____ (insert sky, clouds, or air!). Personally, for whatever reasons, I have always referred to them as castles in the clouds. Am I the only one? When I rounded up a few quotes, I noticed that no one else seemed to refer to them in this manner.
Maybe my head is in the clouds!
But that’s the subject for another debate. I was stumped, so I asked my beautiful daughter Brittany which of these sayings she used. Without hesitation, and with a mouthful of Snickers with Almonds, she answered, “Castles in the sky.” As you can see from the title above, “mom” puts the world of trust in her candy-loving daughter.
Quotes About Castles in the Sky:
If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put the foundations under them. – Henry David Thoreau
Why should we strive, with cynic frown, to knock their fairy castles down? – Eliza Cook
A sigh can shatter a castle in the air. – William R. Alger
By degrees the castles are built. – Irish Proverb
Wishing is good for us. Daydreams, fantasies, castles in the air, and aspirations all drive us forward, impel us to make things happen. – Unknown
I’m curious, which of these three sayings do YOU use. Answer in the comments!