The Making of a GREAT Team: We can learn from baseball's best

 So what makes a great team?

A team that can reach their ultimate pinnacle of success...

A team that can work together under the most challenging of situations...

A team that beholds the love of their most loyal supporters...

 

                 

A team that has unwavering unity and, yes--love amongst dudes...

All throughout last year's Post Season playoffs, I asked myself these questions of my favorite baseball team.

Yes. I am a San Francisco Giants fan.

I love those guys.

And I remember how much I loved my team back in 2002 when they were in the World Series and suffered devastating loss against the Anaheim Angels (damn Rally Monkey)...and I remember how much I loved them in 2010 as they brought home the long awaited World Series victory against the Texas Rangers (Hellz YEAH).

I loved both teams.

But what made the difference from winning and losing those years for the Giants? Was it one thing you can put a single finger on? Several factors? Just plain luck? What can we learn from both teams in life, love, and business?

Well...Of course...I have my theories.  ;)

The Making of a GREAT Team: 

1. No one team player, no matter how brilliant or talented, can win alone.

 2. Work hard. Play hard. Laugh hard together.

3. Conflicts happen. But don't go to bed angry and certainly don't let things come to punches.

4. Have a skipper who knows when to bring on the outcast who shows promise... 

...and when to sit out most shining (and most expensive) star. 

5. And even the skipper sits you out...you still show your steadfast support.

6. A great team is supported by those around them who love them over the years, through thick and thin. 

  

7. The more love your supporters show you...the crazier the getups.

8. A great team knows each others' weaknesses, yet celebrates each others' strengths.

         

9. And sometimes a great team has their very own rally thong...just for luck.



10. But in the end...a great team doesn't have personal  alterior motives, or secrets, or envy, or greed for individual power.


Instead, they are just great together. They are a TEAM.

(And some great teams even have their very own theme song.)   ;)

Is That How People Love?

Airports. You can see an awful lot in airports. You can peer deep into the human condition whilst on a layover in a busy city airport.

I spend way too much time in airports.








Most of the time I see lovely and heartfelt moments...



People in love who run to each other and embrace after a long absence.

Teenagers venturing out into the wide world of independence.

Dogs high on canine downers.
 


Great Grandmas embarking on new adventures...eventhough they are frightened.

But this morning I witnessed something that truly bothered me to my very core. And it made me wonder --

Is that how people love? 

I was waiting for my very early morning flight to work when I heard a final boarding call for 2 people for the departing plane next to my gate.

Bummer.

Mere minutes later, a couple came rushing down the escalator from the security area to the gate. They were out of breath, in their late 50's to early 60's, and obviously in a hurry to catch their plane.

They were two minutes too late.

I heard the woman plead with the airline counter lady that she HAD to board the plane and something about missing a connecting flight to Hawaii. Then I heard the airline counter lady say something about being sorry and the flight being closed.

Then it happened. The woman started crying.

At first, the crying didn't phase me. I mean, afterall. It's just a missed flight. Airline counter ladies know how to handle this. Things will be taken care of. The couple will get to Hawaii. But then I heard the woman cry harder and sob to her husband,

I'm sorry! I'm so sorry! 

And she wasn't merely apologizing. She sounded as though she had caused her husband insurmountable pain and near death. Words cannot describe the sheer pain in her every sob. The more she sobbed uncontrollably, the more her husband became curt with her. He spoke to her in a very angry manner...yet quietly. I sensed a great deal of contempt in his voice, in his eyes, as he spoke to his crying wife. His lips curled. Condescending.

And as she sobbed, the only words that escaped her trembling lips were,

I'm sorry. 

I should have left earlier. 

I'm sorry I got stuck at security. 

I'm sorry that I cost you so much money. 

I'm sorry. 

I'm so very sorry. 

Granted, I don't know the full story. And I could be imagining all of this based on my own personal history. But I know that feeling. That feeling when emotions overtake you out of humiliation in front of your partner. That feeling like you can't do right by the one you love. The feeling like you can't do ANYTHING right, for that matter. The feeling like no matter what you do, the one you love will resent you for it.

But that can't be right. That can't be how people are supposed to love.

I'd hope that if ever I were faced with that situation myself that the person I chose as my mate would love me as I need to be loved. My husband would love me enough to know that I'm a procrastinator. He'd secretly set my clock 15 minutes ahead so I'd wake up on time. He'd help me get prepared the night before with my liquids in a zip lock baggie. He'd drive us to the airport with way more time than we'd ever need because he knows I don't move so fast in the early hours of the morning. He'd help me plan and TOGETHER we'd make our flight and our dream vacation a reality.

Of course, I'd help him ditch the plans once we were on the beach and have the absolute time of his life! I'd lavish him with spontaneity! I'd make him laugh 'til he cried! I'd rub his forehead while we lay on the white sand. I'd kiss him and hold his hand. I'd buy him a hideous Hawaiian shirt.

And if I screwed up, he wouldn't see it that way. He'd see that I was human...just like him. Just like everyone else in the world.

And if we missed our flight, we'd miss it together. He'd take my hand, wipe my tear from my cheek, look lovingly into my eyes, smile tenderly and say,

There, there dear. The airport counter lady will take care of us. It's not the end of the world. As long as we're by each other's side, we can overcome any sort of hiccup life belches our way. 

Now that's how people love, right?

Ah well...if that only happens in LaLa land where unicorns roam...

    Then I'll just continue to fly solo.

The Power of Friendship

Wanna know a secret? It's something that really hit home with me this weekend. It's a huge secret, although you probably already know it. Ya ready? Shhhhh...don't tell anyone...

Here goes:

Never Underestimate the Power of Friendship. 

        

Tada! Great secret, huh? 

Well, ok. So maybe it's not such a big secret. In fact, it's not a secret at all. But sometimes I forget what truly is the wind beneath my oftentimes flailing wings. And I've certainly come to appreciate the friendships & wind power I've grown to love over the years. 

This weekend, alone, my friends showed their love in the most amazing ways: 

1. My girlfriend (who lives three time zones away) lent me her ear at 7am after my long hectic work week.

2. My oldest girlfriend and I caught up on the events of the week & laughed at the silly things our families do.

3. My favorite Puerto Rican girlfriend & her family fed me the most amazing dinner.

4. My lovely ladies' Bunco group of 3 years made me laugh until I thought I was going to puke.

5. My dear friend who turned me on to This American Life treated me to a gorgeous dinner chalk full of conversation with much substance (nevermind the chocolate chili cheesecake).

I am truly a lucky girl. 

I have some of the best friends any one person could ever ask for. 

My friends are always there when I need them. 

• They always make me laugh.
• They always listen when I need to spill my guts.
• They always share their wisdom when I can't seem to find my way.
• They hold me when I cry. 
• They check in with me on facebook to show they care.
• They feed me because they know my cooking skills are lacking. 

And, no matter how much time has passed or how long it's been since I've called or written, they always let me fall right back into our friendship conga rhythm without missing a beat. 

So, this post is for you, my friends. Without your love and friendship, I know I'd be an empty shell of a person. You fill my life with joy, love, laughter (LOTS of laughter), and hope. 

I hope I can someday offer you as much love and joy as you, me. 

PS...

Thanks for the smiles, wisdom, and FOOD!  :D

A Loving Mother's Diabolical Plan...

Ok...not so much diabolical. But, rather, loving. Honest! Allow me to explain...

I had a wonderful conversation with my 13 year old daughter at the dinner table tonight. She told me a sad story about a couple friends of hers who are going through tough phases right now.

One girl is going is succumbing to peer pressure to be all grown up way too fast.

The other girl is buckling under parental pressure to be perfect in every way thereby creating a Mt. St. Helen's eruption in 5, 4, 3...
  




Poor kids.





She told me how lucky she felt not to have those pressures. Of course she has pressures, as all teenagers do, but hers are not the two above. She told me that she was grateful to me for that.

I smiled at her and told her that I had to take ALL of the credit for how wonderful of a young lady she is turning out to be. All of it. My credit. I told her that it was part of my very calculated, very intentional plan. Yes. A plan that involved years of scheming. A plan that involved specific calculated decisions. A plan that was perfect in the making. A plan that was...

Built upon instinct and love.

After hearing this she looked at me with a face of confusion.

So I proceeded to elaborate on said plan.

Mom's Loving Diabolical Instinctual Plan:

1. Ban teen fashion dolls which are dressed more provocatively than you'd

EVER let your own daughter dress.

  2. Don't add unnecessary pressures that won't truly matter in the end.

  3. Hug often.

4. Be...

   ...Silly.

  

5. Foster individualism & creativity.

6. Forget the plan.

Follow your motherly-loving instincts. We have 'em for a reason. Trust them. And though as parents we all make mistakes...

You can't go wrong with love.

I love you, Lil D. Bunches. :)