Go Cubs Go… a new season with a World Series Team!

Ok, I admit it, I am a Cubs fan who came out of the closet last year! I grew up with a father who loved Ernie Banks, Billy Williams and Ron Santo.

We visited Wrigley field as a child, both my parents were from Chicago and all of our relatives lived there, while we were born and raised in NJ. We collected the baseball cards of the day, of course my dad trying to get the whole Cubs line up as well as the plastic player coins found in the hot dog packages. My brother now holds those mint-condition cards of the Cubs and has been a most avid and devout fan for his whole life. Living in upstate NY, he is often the lone Cubs fan in his NY baseball game trips to Citi field. My grandparents spent many days in front of the old console television set watching the Cubs lose game after game, and always cheering for them, but that is just how it was…

…That is until last year and the Cubs comeback after 108 years! What a celebratory year for our family and for so many that waited so long! So although my dad and my grandparents never saw them win a Series, we had that opportunity. We saw them play at Wrigley last summer, connected as siblings and cousins, texting and e-mailing throughout the series and sang, ‘Go Cubs Go!’ all season long. With all the election anxiety, the Cubs provided a respite, a special gift for good, clean fun! The team reflected the joy of the game and the example of what true teamwork looks like! It was magical and a real gift of 2016!

So, David Ross retires after an amazing baseball career ending with the Cubs World Series win and competes on Dancing with the Stars! Now that took guts, I must admit! The first baseball player on the show with no dancing background or experience. And turns out one of the three finalists after many determined performances that challenged a new skill. And although he wasn’t the best dancer technically, he gave it his all, learned something completely new, and had fun doing it. He also had an amazing fan base that voted him in week after week. A joy to watch, his enthusiastic desire to put everything he has into learning this new skill, being present to the opportunity each week, practicing hard and staying humble. As one of the older participants in the show, he took the risk, learned something new with his 23 year old partner, Lindsey, enjoyed the challenge and displayed the same energy that the Cubs displayed as a team last year! F-U-N!! Great role modeling David!

As we enter into the 2017 baseball season we repeat ‘Go Cubs Go! And hope for another amazing season of joy and good baseball! We need this diversion and reminder of the joy of being present in whatever we take on…challenges are risky, but having fun taking the risk is the key! Go Cubs Go! Enjoy the journey….it is quite remarkable!