Mookie Wilson's Wise Words to Live By

Are you in a slump? Have you ever been in one and found it difficult to shake? If so, let me pass along this little gem. I found it today on Twitter. It comes from Mookie Wilson, former Left Fielder for the New York Mets (and Toronto Blue Jays!). Mookie was perhaps best known for his switch-hitting and for hitting the go-ahead game winning RBI in game 6 of the 1986 World Series (aka the hit that turned Bill Buckner into the most hated man in a Red Sox uniform).

The Count also believes in Mookie!

But, apart from being a stellar baseball player, Mookie is also apparently a wise sage:

"When I'm in a slump, I comfort myself by saying if I believe in dinosaurs, then somewhere, they must be believing in me. And if they believe in me, then I can believe in me. Then I bust out."

Self belief is a critical part of all successful pursuits and sometimes it's easy to lose faith during a slump. Maybe you're struggling with a revision of a paper, or you have a lot on your plate at the office, or you're having trouble juggling different parts of your life? Whatever the situation, remember that you have faced tough times before and you have overcome them. Tell yourself, "I got this," take a break from the task and come back with fresh eyes, take a walk, make an outline, switch up your work routine, clean your workspace, go work out...And if all these things fail, you can do as Mookie does! Onward and upward!

Comments

The Long Shadow of Gun Violence (In Loving Memory of Bette Clark)

I met Bette and her oldest son, Joey, during a death penalty trial in Center City. It was the sentencing phase for the two men who killed her youngest son, Timmy, who was gunned down execution-style when he was 15. Caroline, an advocate with the Families of Murder Victims, introduced us. "Bette, this is Jooyoung. He's a researcher and wants to interview you." Joey sized me up and seemed protective of his mom, who had already been through so much. Her eyes were red from crying, so I said, "I'm really sorry to hear about what happened." She smiled a little and said in her Tacony accent, "Thank you. It's been such a long day. But, call me whenever, sure." I spent the next day with Bette and her family at the courthouse and visited them weekly over the next year. I hadn't planned on following the families of murder victims, but my ongoing research in Philly had pushed me in this direction. While getting to know gunshot...

Bas Rutten's Punk Payback: How (Not) to Act During a Robbery

El Guapo I love Bas "El Guapo" Rutten. The Dutchman was a former UFC Heavyweight Champion, 3-time King of Pancrase, and an all-around badass. Following his illustrious fighting career, he transitioned into MMA commentary. I've found his commentary insightful and think that he comes across as a very humble and approachable person. Recently, I learned that Fuel TV was producing a show for Rutten called "Punk Payback." I immediately thought that the show would be a spin-off of MTV's "Bully Beatdown," a show in which professional MMA fighters confront and beat up bullies. To me, this would make sense: Bas Rutten was bullied when he was younger and openly talks about developing self confidence/awareness through the martial arts. I just watched a 10-minute clip of Punk Payback and am surprised to report that it isn't this kind of show. Instead, the episode I saw featured Rutten providing colorful commentary on how to resist/disarm armed...

Why You Should Read "The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck" (& Bukowski)

I just finished reading Mark Manson's The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck . This was a breezy read and packs a ton of wisdom into 210 pages. I read the entire book on my flight back to California yesterday and think it's worth checking out, particularly if you're disillusioned with the cult of self-help-pop-psychology in today's book market. Manson's book is as advertised, "A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life." Other passengers were interested in the book, too! I was initially drawn to The Subtle Art... because Manson, a professional blogger , draws inspiration from Charles Bukowski aka "The Dirty Old Man." Bukowski is one of my favorite writers and has a legion of fans who adore his blunt, crude, and honest way of writing. I can't think of a less pretentious writer. Love or hate him, Bukowski was someone who wrote with raw sincerity; "The Dirty Old Man" was open and unabashed about his vulnerability and he...

Positive Sociology

Search This Blog