Taking The Focus Off Ourselves

Taking The Focus Off Ourselves

By Jeff Whitaker

We live in a very “me centered” world.  There, I said it.  But it’s true.  Everywhere you turn you witness it. The attitude is reflected in just about every aspect of our lives; how we approach our jobs, our priorities, our time, our money, our “things.” It’s probably most evident in our social media practices. The most glaring example is “the selfie.” How do I look?  What will people think?

For many, it’s all about me!

This really got me thinking when I read the epitaph on the gravestone of baseball legend Jackie Robinson. Forty-five years ago, this week, Robinson died.  He was only 53.  But in his short lifetime, he made a lasting impact for generations to come. Robinson truly broke the color barrier in baseball, becoming the first African-American player in the 20th century to take the field in the Major Leagues.  In doing so, he paved the way for every African-American player who followed him, and he paid a personal price in the process.  

What was it about Jackie Robinson that set him apart from other baseball players of his day? There was a quality to his character that attracted the attention of Brooklyn Dodgers general manager Branch Rickey. Rickey decided he wanted to integrate baseball and needed someone to lead the way. He needed someone with talent, but also the temperament to handle what he knew would be a rough road. Rickey found who he needed in a second baseman who played for the Kansas City Monarchs as a part of the Negro Leagues. As it turned out, Robinson was the man with the ability to handle the criticism and backlash without fighting back. He endured teammates and crowds who opposed his presence, and threats to himself and his family.  And he did it with honor, dignity, and grace.  

For Jackie Robinson, it wasn’t all about him. It was about something much bigger. He saw the big picture and was willing to be a pioneer and pave the way for future ballplayers.

Robinson’s tombstone reads, “A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives.” You and I may not have the platform of Jackie Robinson, but we can work each day to take the focus off ourselves and make a concerted effort to add value to others. In doing so, we may find ourselves the odd one out, but the reward in the end will be worth it.

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