Celebrate like the Baddoos

"Don't give up. Your day will come!"  I don't know if Akil Baddoo ever heard that, but he certainly lived it.  Who is Akil Baddoo?  That's what I was asking when he came up to the plate for the Detroit Tigers (my second favorite MLB team).  All that is on the ESPN.com is that he is a 22-year-old centerfielder for the Detroit Tigers.  A little more digging discovered that he remarkably made the Tigers after spending several years in low A minor league ball for the Minnesota Twins.  The Tigers picked Baddoo up this last winter in the unprotected player draft.  After a great spring training with the Tigers, he made the major league team

What did he do?  In his first game in the major leagues when he came up to bat against the Cleveland Indians, he took the first pitch to the opposite field for a 370 foot home run. It was a great moment (check the video).  While one home run, even in your first at-bat, doesn't define a career, it certainly defines a positive moment of hope and achievement for hard work.  It defines a positive moment in the young baseball season where fans are back and the world is trying to figure out what a post-pandemic era will feel like.  It defines a positive moment for a family who was there to see it.  

What really caught my attention was his reaction and that of his parents who were in the stands that afternoon (again, check the video).  You could see the joy in Baddoo's face and actions as he rounded the bases, and he knew exactly where his parents were sitting.  He gave them recognition as he crossed home plate which I think is a total class act.  The cameras knew where his parents were too as if they knew something special would happen that day.  The cameras captured their instant reaction, and as a parent, it was beautiful to see.  Even though I wasn't there for all the little league games, high school baseball, years of summer ball, and what was likely a difficult decision to go pro, I could see the reward; we all could.  

We should mark Akil Baddoo's moment in time and remind ourselves of what can be achieved by the daily grind.  Our hard work will have celebratory moments.  It may not be in front of 10,000 fans and televised.  It may not be in front of all our friends or even our parents, but those moments do come.  Own those moments when you achieve them.  Take credit for your success and be proud of your accomplishments.

If you are a parent, look for the achievement, even small, in your own children and celebrate like the Baddoos did.  Be proud of your work as a parent and be proud of what your children are becoming.  I love baseball for reasons like this, but look around, I am sure there are moments like this to be found every day if we look for it.   

Akil Baddoo update 4/6/21

Baddoo's legendary start to his major league career grows.  In his second game for Detroit on Monday, he smashed a grand slam.  Then today, Tuesday, he was a pinch-runner in the eighth inning of a tied 3-3 game with Minnesota.  He stayed in the game defensively then in his first at-bat of the game in the 10th inning he hit a walk off single to win the game 4-3.  Keep an eye on this guy, he is fun to watch.  

Content Creation: We are all in this Together

When it comes to creating content, my heart is always up for it, but my mind is always cautious and questioning.  I look around at the areas in which I would be interested in creating content: Dungeons and Dragons, Star Wars reaction, comic book analysis, Marvel Cinematic Universe breakdown, baseball talk  and more.  I have a lot to say, but I question the value.  Why?  I look around at what is out there.  There are some really smart and creative people who are really successful and fun to read or watch or listen to.  What could I possibly have to add to the conversation?  

I was recently listening to the podcast, Dragon Talk, while shoveling the driveway.  Hosts Greg Tito @gregtito and Shelly Mazzanoble @shellymoo were interviewing Jordan Parker of @Lionhead_Gaming  The topic of content creation came up with the question, "What is the hardest thing you struggled with becoming a D&D content creator?"  Jordan, who is massively positive and has the greatest laugh in the world, said, "Being cognizant that other people's success is not your failure."  I stopped shoveling and stood there in the cold thinking about that statement, because I think that is what keeps me from creating content.  I am looking at the success of others and think, "I could never do that as good as they do."  Parker went on to say that we need to support and love the content creators around you.  It fuels the fire for everyone.  Keep the jealousy and envy at bay.  This thirty seconds of audio resonated so deeply with me. 

It is such a positive outlook on this traditional concept of competition.  I feel we live in a world where we are or we aren't, but Jordan's view is that together we are all stronger.  Together we fuel the fire that builds all of us up.  There is enough space for more Dungeon Masters and adventures.  There is enough space for reactions to Star Wars or comic books or movies or baseball.  If we communicate and reach out to one another, we will each build up something great.  Not separate in competition, but together in partnership.  

The most important part for me though, is his inital answer that other's people's success is not your failure.  I mean, who are we creating for anyway?  Personally, I am creating for myself, because I find enjoyment and fullfilment.  If making content makes us happy and we share it with a few, a lot, or a whole bunch of people and they enjoy it, all the better!  Success lies in our own hearts.  

If you have been holding back, take heart.  Remember who you are creating for...you!  If you share your creations and others love it, great!!  If they hate it, well, you didn't make it for them anyway.  You have something special in you, so make it and share it.  Connect with others who share your passion and together, build something great!