I know it’s been about a month since the Blue Jays finished second in the World Series. So, I thought it was time for quiet reflection.

I often enjoy overthinking the broader meaning of events in my life. It’s not because I think everything happens for a reason, but rather that humans tend to give meaning to everything that happens.

I’m not looking for an ultimate truth to squeeze from the event, but for a learning I can use to be a better person. That improvement can range from changing my behaviour to changing my thinking. Sports is something I have to work at, not to reflect upon, but just to enjoy the experience, be it the depths of despair and sadness to the heights of joy and exuberance.

Sports is so silly in so many ways. Take baseball, for example. In its simplest form, it is a bunch of men and increasingly women who throw a ball at another person to see how close they can not hit the other person. That other person has a specially made stick to hit the ball as far away as possible. One group of players on the opposing team stand out in a field to try to catch the ball. The hitters try to run for 360 feet in a square pattern to get back to where they started.

Outside of the stadium where the game is being played, all this activity has little impact on the world. Oh, beer is consumed in groups, both in public and in the privacy of homes. But the essentials in life, such as acquiring food, clothing, and shelter, remain unchanged. Except for the $100,000,000+ salaries by the players, I’m not any better off. Or am I?

Damn, I’m overthinking this. I can’t help myself.

I’ve talked with strangers with an easy opening: “How about those Jays.” I’ve never received a strange look in return. I’ve always ended up in an interesting conversation.

I was focused on the Jays that I completely missed the transition from late fall to early winter. It flurried snow and rained. The wind blew Halloween decorations from yard to yard. The temperature dropped from well above the norm to a few degrees below the norm. The pantry somehow emptied except for a good supply of Hawkins Cheezies. I woke up many mornings through the play-off run with a spring in my step – another baseball game to look forward to. The daily newscasts led off with storylines of hope and amazement.

My world hadn’t changed when the Series ended. But I like to think that a dent had been made in it. It renewed my hope that success can be achieved, not only by the entitled and privileged but by the little guy, too. The ballplayers accepted the challenge to chase an irrelevant dream of winning a trophy. The second-place finish showed that these players still won in the minds of many, doing so with such understated poise and class. Hopefully, by the time this Blog is posted, the City of Toronto will have hosted a public celebration of what they achieved—a Canadian version of what sports is really all about.

Please give this a bit of a think. What ‘gift’ did the World Series give you?

I am curious about your thoughts. Please comment by sending me an email with your bit of a think.

Photo by Tim Gouw on Unsplash

If you enjoyed The Blog, please share it with others. Thanks.

And my thanks to St. Albert’s 50+ Activity Centre for making this Blog possible.

Volunteer Blogger

glenn.walmsley@icloud.com