I get it. 2020 was a challenge for all of us…
Our worlds were turned upside down by a global pandemic and even if we survived, which you did if you are reading this, life as we knew it changed in more ways than we could have ever possibly imagined.
Most travels came to a halt, in person schooling shut down, restaurants closed, youth sports got canceled and video conferencing infiltrated our work and social lives a lot more than we could have ever hoped for…
Government lockdowns and stay at home orders came fast and often throughout the entire year and almost all of us were directly impacted by the virus in one way or another.
The Ultraman Triathlon I planned to compete in, the kids ski championships and the entire little league season were all canceled…
My work dates & salary at MLB Network were significantly compromised and my family went months without seeing Grammy for fear of killing her if we happened to be contagious Asymptomatic carriers…
We all have different stories but it goes without saying that we all dealt with some sort of similar perceived misfortune…
Or did we? 🤔
First & foremost, by not working at MLB Network I got to spend WAY more time with my kids… I never realized how much I missed until I was actually home on a daily basis to experience the small yet invaluable shared experiences that help build bonds and strengthen relationships for a lifetime…
My time away from MLB also allowed me to focus more on the Daily Hustle and my role as a Foot Reflexology Board salesman… What started as a bit of a joke and fun side project has developed into a full blown business that has far exceeded any of our expectations. 😅
The time at home has also allowed me and my No Filter Network co founder, Joe Manuele, to act on a vision, incorporate No Filter Inc. and put together the right team to build the most kick ass interactive live streaming platform on the market. Without the extra time that became available, there is no way we would have ever been able to raise the funds, hire the right people and bring this thing to near launch as quickly as we have…
The resorts closed and races were canceled, but the kids and I decided to take advantage of some incredible early April snow. We figured out a way to hike the mountains and EARNED our turns… This introduced us to the backcountry skiing and boarding world that is simply next level shit!
Of course after months of training, I would have loved to compete at Ultra Man but that training is what allowed me to run 20 plus miles a day for 97 straight days that culminated with a 72 mile EPIC jog around Lake Tahoe that Kowalski & I will never forget…
Yes, it sucked that Little League got canceled but there is no chance that Biscuit & I would have ever played as much front yard TB Cheddar Cheese 1 on 1 baseball games if the LL season was played. Pre pandemic, our Let Them Play travel team was originally going to play in 3 or 4 tourneys in California, but when California refused to let the kids play, we took our show on the road… When it was all said and done, we played 7 different tournaments in 3 different states, giving the kids invaluable life experiences and a lot more baseball than we could have ever imagined…
Sure, 2020 was a fucked up year, but ultimately, whether or not we decided to let 2020 fuck us personally was actually an individual choice that each and every one of us had the liberty to make…
Over 2000 years ago, Epictetus put it perfectly:
“It’s not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters. When something happens, the only thing in your power is your attitude toward it; you can either accept it or resent it.”
Here’s to 2020, the ultimate year of acceptance. 🥂
Happy Fucking New Year!!!
-EB
P.S. Have you hopped on a Team GoHard Foot Reflexology Board yet?
