Perspective - You don't have it as hard as you think.

Three short stories that will shed some light on my newly changed perspective and hopefully help change yours.

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/3b7a57_902d0bd9a9414666bac8566c166aedf9/720p/mp4/file.mp4

Two miles from the airport in Santo Domingo, my first road experience in the DR

On February 6, 2022, I traveled to the Dominican Republic. I was traveling to the DR to manage the Dominican Summer League, which we'll call the DSL. The DSL is the first stop in most international free-agents careers'. Little did I know my personal and professional

perspective was about to be changed forever. My now wife, Katie, and I were in the middle of planning a wedding. (Her planning and me agreeing/telling her what a great job she is doing.) We were looking at the next five months, being 1,500 miles apart, trying to figure out how we would be creative and get through it. Naturally, I started feeling sorry for myself and us. Later that week, I was listening to a story being told by a player that had just arrived at the complex. We'll call this player Smith to respect his privacy. I heard Smith talk about the DR and living in the country, and I assumed he was Dominican. Later, come to find out, he had been living on the island for the last three years with his uncle, training to get signed. He had not seen his mother or the rest of his family during that time because he was, in fact, Venezuelan and had lived there his whole childhood. Smith went three years without seeing his family in hopes of taking the first steps toward supporting them. This was my first lesson in "you don't have it as hard as you think."

Shortly after the dust had settled and everyone was getting into a routine, some personal items disappeared. The staff and I were not going to tolerate this, so after some investigating, we found out a first-year player had a whole Pirates wardrobe in his room. We consulted with the clubhouse manager and confirmed that there was no way he should have all of this clothing. Bingo! We found our culprit and were ready to put a stop to it. So, we brought him into the office to ask him some questions regarding the two sweatshirts, three pairs of shorts, and five shirts he had accumulated over a month. After the first question, the player responded in Spanish with, "No, you all don't understand. I have traded bats, batting gloves, and other personal items for clothing to take home to my family. I know they are proud of me and have always been there to support me, so I want to give back." At a loss for words, we apologized for assuming that he had stolen the clothing and promised to protect it for him until the end of the season and time for him to go home. I thought it was a pain as a player to buy or give away my clothing to family and friends, but being a gear hog, I would eventually just buy it. Still, I never went to the lengths of trading things that I used every day to be able to provide a gift. I quickly realized that I "don't have it as hard as I think."

Mini-camps are now completed, teams are assigned, and practice is officially starting. We have had three team meetings, and one pitcher has missed all three. I began to get frustrated at him and his teammates for allowing it to happen, so I called him into the office to talk. I asked him to explain the schedule and where he needed to be at each time. I quickly realized that I had done him a huge disservice. This young man only went to activities under which his name or "Pitchers" were listed. After we, as a staff, realized the miscommunication and explained the translation and significance of "ALL" to him, he never missed another meeting. I always enjoyed school, but equally took it for granted and would get frustrated when things got difficult, but this was my third lesson in "you don't have it as hard as you think."

Tired of rising gas prices? At least you have a car and not four people, including your two children on a moped. Tired of working? You aren't washing windshields for the equivalent of two cents for each windshield to try and get enough money for food. Tired of cleaning your floor because there is pet hair that will quickly be replaced after you sweep? You have a floor and aren't worried about it turning to mud the next time it rains. Sick of waiting in line at the airport to check your bags? You have a suitcase, not a trash bag. Cleats are last years model and aren't "fresh?" You have cleats and aren't playing barefoot. Beat up balls in the cages? I bet they are all baseballs or softballs depending on your respective sport and not rag balls. None of this is unusual on the island, and all of it is why my perspective is forever changed.

Hustle.

You don't have it as hard as you think.