"I didn't come to New York to be a star. I brought my star with me." - Reggie Jackson
The above quote comes from Reginald Martinez "Reggie" Jackson, Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 1993, known to many fans as Mr. October for his baseball heroics. He played for five World Series championship teams during his career, three with the Oakland Athletics and two more with the New York Yankees during the 1970's. His brash personality often rubbed people the wrong way: fans, opponents, teammates, even the owners that paid for his services, but you could not argue with the results. As Reggie often liked to say, "It ain't braggin' if you can back it up," and back it up he did, more often than not during a successful 21 year ride through major league baseball.
He was once asked what he meant when he said he brought his star to New York. He explained that he had already established his reputation as a star athlete and a champion by the time he arrived in New York, and he believed he could help the Yankees achieve their goal of winning the World Series, something they hadn't done at that time since 1962. As it turned out he was right: his performance in Game 6 of the 1977 World Series was something to behold. He became only the second man in history to hit three home runs in a single Series game other than Babe Ruth, and he did in his own unique way: three home runs against three different pitchers on three consecutive swings of his bat, all on the first pitch he saw. It hadn't been done that way before, and though the feat has been repeated in recent years, no one else has done it the way Reggie did. Like him or not, he is respected by all as being truly one of a kind.
The same can be said for each one of us...yes, I mean you, too. You don't have to be a superstar at anything to be unique. Your set of gifts and talents is so unique that nobody can accomplish the things you can do, and even if they tried, they couldn't do it quite the way you can do it. Your personality, your attitude, your view of life, your disposition, even your temperament is suited to certain aspects of life in a way that nobody can match. Everybody is born an original, with something to bring to the table. We devalue ourselves when we spend too much time looking outward rather than inward. We lack the confidence that we are talented, we are valuable. I believe this is why so many of us resent people who are bold and confident enough to let people see their talent without worry about how others may respond, whether to praise or criticize. We wish at times (often in secret) that we had the confidence to let people see us as we are without being overly worried about what they think. Truth is, we all have the confidence, we just don't believe that we do. That doesn't mean we have to be loud or outspoken about who we are or what we can do, it just means we are willing to stand on our own two feet and let people say whatever they like, because...sticks and stones may break some bones but names DON'T HAVE TO hurt me:
"No one can make you feel inferior without your consent." - Eleanor Roosevelt
Wherever you go and whatever you do, step up to the plate with confidence. Stop comparing yourself to others; you're better than you think you are. And stop looking for someone else to play the starring role in the game that is your life. Bring your own star with you, and to paraphrase Earth, Wind, and Fire, be a:
"...shining star [for all to] see...what your life can truly be..."
That's all for now, gotta run. Until we meet again, remember:
Keep it simple.... See ya!
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