On Sunday I watched the last game of the season for my oldest child's baseball team. As I sat on the bleachers, watching the interaction among the players, listening to the talk among the parents and grandparents around me, two words came to mind: courtesy and respect.
We were short a player, so a member of the opposing team was filling in and covering an outfield position. He worked just as hard to win the game for us as did any player on our team. His love -- and respect -- for the game was obvious as he made a difficult catch and threw out a member of his own team. The appreciation -- and courtesy -- shown by his "adopted" team for the day was genuine.
I watched with pride as my six foot tall, 14 year old son, gave up the mound to another player after pitching five innings. He had pitched a total of twelve innings this past week and I knew his arm hurt; the peppermint smell of IcyHot has been wafting through our house for days (I suppose it could smell worse!) The applause and calls of "Good job, Colby" from the spectators and his teammates -- the respect -- as he walked off the pitcher's mound made him stand a little straighter and brought a big grin to his face.
These young men won their game -- and it was a battle, as they played one of the toughest teams in the league. I was impressed with their skill, because it doesn't seem that long ago that a double play consisted of getting them to stand upright in the field with their baseball glove on their hand, not their head!
But more than that, I was in awe of the way they spoke to each other -- the words of encouragement, the appreciation, the congratulations, the courtesy -- and the respect they showed, not only to the umpires, because this is drilled into them as players, but also to each other and to the game of baseball itself.
And they still managed to have an incredible time!
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Remember...
Etiquette - Wikipedia
... all makes life simpler and more pleasant by removing many chances for misunderstandings and by creating opportunities for courtesy and mutual respect. ...
It's about being approachable and friendly in your interactions with others, all the time, whether you are on the ball field or in the board room. It needs to be a part of you, not a facade you "put on" when you want to impress someone.
It's about having fun along the way.
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