The Great Comeback!

It’s the bottom of the 5^th inning, our team is at bat and we are down 6-0 with only one inning left in the game.  Throughout the game our defense has been awesome, but our offense has left a little something to be desired.  Our first batter strikes out, our next batter bunts and gets on base, the next batter does the same and is on too.  Finally, we score! We are on the board with two runs!  Our next batter hits a homerun we are now 6-3 in the bottom of the 5^th inning. The next batter comes up and hits another homerun we are now 6-4 in one inning, unbelievable but we’ve done it.  We have closed the gap in half and inning and are in this ballgame.  The other team gets a third out and go up to bat, but we play it like a textbook, four batters one base hit and three outs later we are back up to bat.  This is it, our last at bat.  We need two runs to tie and three to win.  We get two runners on and one batter strikes out, but we still have two runners on.   We get a base hit and two runs score we are now tied 6-6 with one runner the winning run on third base.  Our next batter comes hits a double and we win 7-6.  I must restate that we came back from a 6-0 deficit in an inning and a half to win, amazing!

I described this play-by-play for a reason and hope that you were able to follow. I did it to illustrate just how similar life is to a baseball game or to any sport for that matter. Take a moment to think about how many times in your life you have been in the bottom of the 5^th inning, behind by six runs with what looks like no hope of winning and suddenly the tide changes and you come back to win the game in the bottom of the 6^th inning in what is your last at bats? I am sure more times than you care to think about and now is not the time you to stop winning either! Perhaps this is the first time you have found yourself with your back against the wall and feel as though all is lost and I say to you “do not accept defeat!” You may be in the midst of one of those times when things look bleak, and nothing seems to be going right for you, but I tell you do not be fooled by what you see! It is not real and it is not over until it is over! Just like the kids on my son’s baseball team, if you stay with it until the end you can will win.

I can see that times are tough for many people.  Massive numbers of people have found themselves in what at some point were unimaginable situations  with the loss of jobs, homes, savings and investments at an all-time high.  On the surface, things look bad, but I am asking that you look beyond the surface and see the incredible opportunity this time in our history represents for us.  You are not alone in this, I do not know exactly how comforting this is to you, but think about it, millions are in the same position as you are right now and the playing field by in large has been leveled.  This time presents itself as an opportunity for the re-invention of oneself yet again.  Come on women, we do it all the time with our hair, make-up and clothes, this time may be just a little more drastic. We are well equipped to take on this task; we are strong women (only we can endure child birth right!). This time now presents with it infinite opportunities for staging the great comeback! This should be exciting and encouraging.  If you have never thought about it like this before, I am happy to be the one to tell you!

I know that this time is very scary and difficult for many, but I say turn this around and take advantage of this time. There has been only one other time in recent history which presented the same opportunity for advancement and that was during “The Great Depression”.  Our country was in great turmoil and the playing field had been leveled by a great economic catastrophe much like what we have experienced today.  What is not spoken of often is the number of people who as the result of the depression became extremely wealthy.  The people who refused to be beaten were able to take advantage of an enormous shift and pioneer themselves into prosperity.  Some of the wealthiest families this country has made their money during the time period immediately following the depression. This same thing can still happen now all that is required is willingness, a dream/desire and faith!  You have not been hung out to dry, but perhaps have been given the greatest opportunity of your life at success.  Have an open mind and a willingness to see and hear the greatness that is in store for you.  Now is the time to dream, to dream big ginormous (it’s my word) dreams! What do you have to lose? Dream these dreams, go after these dreams and dare not lose sight of them.  Believe in your dreams and have faith in the reality of those dreams.  It is never too late as long as you believe this.  Like my son’s team discovered today never give up because there is no obstacle to great to overcome! This same principle applies to your life right now.  Never give up!

Success in Everything,
Deonae