Winning is only half of it. Having fun is the other half. –Bum Phillips
It was a somber occasion that brought us to Dayton, Ohio last April. A close friend had passed away and a big group of us ventured out to the Midwest to celebrate his life and pay our respects. R.I.P. Little Louie! And in the swirl of emotions, reminiscing, and reflections, we were looking for a place to relax and level set.
Our hotel was set downtown, in the shadow of the stadium for the Dayton Dragons, a minor league affiliate of the Cincinatti Reds baseball team. The backdrop around the stadium was teeming with outside bars, fun restaurants and an overall festive vibe. We settled into an open-air establishment directly across from the Dragons stadium, and collectively caught our breath.
The atmosphere within the ballpark was electric. A huge crowd cheered for every home team hit. Families gathered together for ice cream and chili. Dogs strolled through the grounds and the throng went bananas when the Frisbee Dog performance commenced. In the end, the children ran the bases, and the fireworks exploded from above. It was a spectacle unlike anything we had ever seen. And the welcome distraction we all needed.
After the game, a young man in a Dayton Dragons tee shirt and hat walked into the bar. He caught our eye and asked if we were able to enjoy any of the contest. When we enthusiastically nodded, he went to explain that he was in charge of promotions for the ball club. His mission was to make sure that everyone had fun. Plain and simple. At the end of the conversation, I mentioned that, with all the pomp and circumstance, we didn’t notice who had won the game. The young man smiled ear-to-ear.
“That is exactly the point!”
Then he glanced back over toward the stadium and looked us all in the eye.
“If you leave knowing the score, we haven’t done our job!”
The Dragons had provided an injection of energy and fun in an otherwise gloomy occasion. And couldn’t we all use a little more fun in our work and personal lives?
Let’s Take a Break
In our work lives, we all face challenges and pressures. Expanding quotas. Increased competition. Internal politics. Shrinking market share. Economic headwinds. The pressures are real and, at times, unrelenting. This is the job we have chosen, and we need to block out the noise and focus on the task at hand.
But we were not put on this earth to constantly grind. Every now and then we need to take a break from the madness. Every now and then we need to lighten up and have some fun. Every now and then, we need to seek out colleagues who bring light and joy to our lives. At some point, we all need a pressure valve to inject entertainment and laughter into our work routine.
Find the Oasis
And the same is true in our personal lives. Relationships face constant internal and external pressure. Family strife and conflict can escalate over time. Health issues and financial pressures can take a toll. We can’t run from these obstacles and need to face them head on. But it’s okay to occasionally step back in the midst of the chaos and live a little!
Mindless entertainment can provide a meaningful salve. Taking a break from a challenging topic can broaden our perspective. Savoring a creature comfort can give us a new appreciation for the good times. Life can’t be spent surrounded by dark clouds. It is important to pick our heads up in times of strife and seek out our oasis in the eye of the hurricane!
Head Toward the Sunshine
Of course, we can’t take our eye off the ball entirely. Sticking our head in the sand won’t get us any closer to our goals. And it certainly won’t make our problems disappear! We have real obligations, deadlines, and pressures that we have to actively navigate. But we have to maintain some balance.
We can give ourselves permission to create our own sunshine. We can belt out our favorite karaoke song with our colleagues. Clap along at a raucous musical. Belly laugh with good friends over a long-forgotten memory. Face the water and watch the sun gracefully disappear over the horizon. Our problems and challenges will still be there when we return. But we might just have a whole new appreciation for living while we are away.
Winning is important in life. But sometimes, it is okay to just have some fun and not worry about the score.