Friday, July 12, 2019

Overcoming Circumstance

Maddux, Glavine, and Smoltz were reunited today.
 
Five choices you’ll regret, by good old Travis Bradberry…
 
1. They wish they hadn’t made decisions based on what other people think. (DM: agree). When you do this two things tend to happen:
a. You make a poor career choice.
b. You fail to uphold your morals.
 
2. They wish they hadn’t worked so hard, especially when you do it at the expense of the people closest to you.
 
3. They wish they had expressed their feelings. As children we’re taught that emotions are dangerous and they must be bottled up and controlled.
 
4. They wish they had stayed in touch with their friends.
 
5. They wish they had let themselves be happy. Most times suffering is a choice.
 
Stephen Covey: “I am not a product of my circumstances. I am a product of my decisions.”
 
ME: Don’t think you’re being held back by the circumstances you’re in. I do this too often when in reality those things aren’t holding me back. I realized this recently while reading a thread of comments of social media – replies to a post on the proposed bill to give housing assistance to African American minorities. One comment said this was exactly like two previously disasterously failed attempts to do the same thing, the latter of while caused bank failures all across the country. Another reminded us that during WWII Japanese Americans were literally being imprisoned here in America. Did the generations of their ancestors demand reparations? No. Instead they worked hard to build businesses and successful careers. They did not expect a handout, or expect the government to take care of them.
 
Likewise I shouldn’t get down and not reach for the life I want, just because things didn’t turn out the way I’d hoped. I can still try to do the things I want. I’m usually not so good at translating world events to personal growth.
 
 
Good article not just about the Nike/Betsy Ross flag controversy, but also perhaps why the country is in the state it’s in: instead of treating fellow sinners with grace, instead we are offended, point fingers, and belittle – often without knowing the true story of what’s going on.  Truly Satan is deceiving millions and millions – more and more every day.  
 
 
From Jim Denison: according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the probability of an earthquake measuring magnitude 6.7 striking the Los Angeles area in the next thirty years is 60 percent. A magnitude 7 earthquake has a 46 percent probability; a magnitude 7.5 quake has a 31 percent probability.
In San Francisco, the odds of catastrophe are even higher: there is a 72 percent chance of an earthquake measuring magnitude 6.7 and a 51 percent chance of a quake measuring magnitude 7.
 
Sometimes Taco Bell service is good. Sometimes bad. Same with McDonalds and most other fast food places. Leaving Augusta I was pumping gas and noticed the brutally long drive thru line next door at Sonic. Finished pumping and went inside to get a drink. Came back and five minutes later – 300 seconds – the cars had barely moved. Better to go inside, but sometimes that’s not much better.
 
Chickfila almost always has excellent service. Even when the drive through is jammed they have 2 lines and 2 employees outside taking and relaying orders. Tuesday was Cow Day at Chickfila. W&MC went, and also Anna and her roommates. 


JACKIE ROBINSON  [SABR Bio] had a major league career of only 10 season, but which included a Rookie of the Year Award, an MVP and six All-Star Game appearances. Played for BRO 1947-56; ROY 1947; NL MVP 1949*, ASG 1949-54. In addition to receiving MVP votes in 8 of his 10 seasons he lead the league twice in stolen bases and won a batting title. He played in 6 World Series and had his number retired by more than one team. Number retired by LAD and now by all MLB teams. Six Dodger teammates also received MVP votes in 1949.
 
NOLAN RYAN [SABR Bio] led his league in bases-on-balls surrendered a record eight times. He is also the leader in career BB. Three of the first five batters he faced in his career are now Hall of Famers. Replaced Dick Selma in the 6th inning on 11-Sep-1966 and faced Pat Jarvis, Felipe Alou & Eddie Mathews. In the 7th his first two opponents were Hank Aaron & Joe Torre. Ryan led the American League in strikeouts nine times, another of his records. Led AL in K in 1972, 73, 74, 76, 77, 78, 79, 89 & 90.

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