One of the Most Important Things in Life...is Just Showing Up

It's not likely many of you have seen the movie, Hardball. (Hey, if it wasn't for TBS I would probably miss most of the movies out there at all.)

Ignore their writeup of the story of an aimless young man (Keanu Reeves) who's life is going down the crapper until he agrees to coach a Chicago inner city Little League Team. What the story is REALLY about is the kids, who overcome the death of the youngest member of the team, face their own fears and stories about how people always quit on them, and SHOW UP for the final game when everyone else wanted them to quit.

Here's the line: "One of the most important things in life is showing up. I'm blown away by your ability to show up. Take a good look at yourselves and be proud."

Call me sentimental, however think about how many times you beat yourself up for not doing better, or let all your disappointments of what other people said they'd do (and didn't) determine your behavior with yourself, and with other people.

The only person we are doing any damage to by not showing up - is ourselves. If we let our fear - of being embarrassed, of worrying about what someone else will think, of being disappointed (again), of not being good enough, of wondering if we're worth it or from the right side of the tracks, of worrying whether or not we'll be noticed, acknowledged or rewarded - prevent us from showing up, how can we ever hope for the opportunity to actually get what we want, let alone excel and win the game.

I heard that line and I started looking at where I wasn't fully showing up in my life or not really engaging in my relationships. It was a good kick in the rear. My backside's a little bruised, but it's my life and I'm not willing to play it small. I want people to say to me that they're blown away by my ability to show up.

Here's a link to the video that has the line - check it out!

Hardball Movie Trailer