Find the good.
Our family (well, part of us) attended a Cardinals versus Cubs game last night. We are on a quest to visit all of the MLB stadiums and Busch Stadium was next on the list. I found myself in a quandary as a Reds' fan watching as two of our rivals played each other. Frankly I wasn't rooting for either team. For those of you who know my family, you know I am married to a Cubs' fan so he enjoyed himself immensely.
So as I sweltered in the heat and watched some mediocre baseball, here are some remembrances and lessons I took away from the experience:
Find the good. Busch Stadium is a nice field. The food was fantastic and we had access to AC at the field on the 100-degree day. In almost all situations we can find a level of good. Bad meetings can be held in beautiful surroundings. Unexpected encounters as you wait in line can brighten your day. Look around and find the good.
Enjoy the company. Appreciate the humor, the memory-making and the shared experiences of colleagues, co-workers, family, friends and others. Sometimes the event isn't what matters; rather, it's the people on the journey with you.
See the humor. Almost all ridiculousness can be funny if you can look past the frustration and find the comedy. People sitting in your seats, lines for ice cream out the door, ejected pitchers in the first inning. We created memories at the ballpark that we will laugh about for years to come. Appreciate the eccentric colleague or long-winded facilitator or overlooked lunch reservation. There is always a way to see the humor if you'll only look.
So it's not always about who is playing the game or the event or meeting in front of you. Finding the good, enjoying the people and seeing the humor can override any particulars. Happy summering, all.
-Mindy Muller, CFRE, President/CEO of CDP
