The sun was starting to ease up on a Wednesday afternoon as I entered the empty baseball field. There were some signs of past games from a few pieces of garbage around each of the dugouts. As I get closer to the infield carrying a cooler full of water bottles and seltzers. a rush of excitement engulfs me. It has been way too long since I played in a softball game. To my surprise there were bases already installed on the field. It is those little things in life. I didn’t have to bring my makeshift bases from my car. I start to see a few of my fellow leaders from the men’s group that I run start arriving at the park. The subtle winds that grace the hot summer day that cools the field is just another sign that it will be a perfect summer evening.
A Perfect Summer Evening
One of the themes I talk about on the podcast or here on the Art of Fatherhood site is that dads and men need to find time to hang out. It is imperative that guys make time for themselves. I am usually focused on my family. Therefore I don’t get a chance to meet up with friends that often. Tonight was different. I scheduled a softball game for the men’s group that I help run. I miss playing sports. In my teenage years and early 20s I was playing basketball, football or baseball with my friends. I truly missed the camaraderie, the competition and the laughs that are shared when I am playing sports.
Eventually everyone that registered showed up. We used the traditional sandlot rules of yesteryear. I made a line with my hand that cut up the group of guys to form two teams. Therefore, no one really cared which team they were on. Collectively we were just happy to be out playing a game we love. Some just dusted off their baseball gloves that did not see any action for years. On the flip side you had guys who were suited up in baseball gear and dug out their cleats from their baseball bag.
No Keeping Score, Just Counting The Laughs
As the first inning started my hopes for a successful outing already came true. We all were shouting a few quips at each other. You could see genuine smiles on all the guys who came out to play in the game. Guys were transported back to a younger time. It didn’t matter their age. We had young pups that were in their mid to late 20s to guys in their 60s playing a game they have loved for years. Of course one thing holds true is that father time is undefeated when it comes to playing sports.
Even though we might be slower and we will all be feeling some aches and pains the next morning, it didn’t matter. We all were just having the time of our lives. Many of the guys were saying that we should make this a yearly thing. Some of the guys were coaching others on how to swing or how to cover the possible double play ball. At one point some yelled out if anyone was keeping score. No one had any clue of who was winning. It was all about laughter, playing a game like we did as kids and just taking time out of our busy days.
This Is What It Is All About
Those few hours that evening was all about looking to make a good joke or hit a ball into the outfield. We all felt that joy. My message to you all who are reading this is that I hope you find a time to experience what we did. Dads, make sure you find time for yourself where you get to be you. You deserve it. You might not play like you did when you were younger, but you will have a blast like you did playing with your friends until the streetlights came on and you had to rush home for the night.