I saw on a Saturday news program that August 7 was National Baseball Card Day and I instantly started Googling some of my favorite cards when I was collecting in the 70’s and early 80’s. These Rod Carew cards from 1977 and 1979 were the Holy Grail cards for me…they were the last cards I needed to complete my set and they were the hardest to get.
I spent every dime I could in 1977 buying packs of Topps cards hoping to find this gem in the pack. Despite getting nothing but doubles of cards in every pack, I found solace in the sweet smell of the bubble gum and powdered sugar in the packs.
For about an hour or two this past Saturday morning, I forgot about the stress and worries of work, home, kids, family and career. I was a kid again and it felt great.
Yes, as we grow and age and take on responsibilities, we often do what we have to do rather than what we want to do. But that doesn’t mean that we should leave our childhood joys behind. Spend time being a kid. Do it often. Share your stories with your friends and, more importantly, your children. I do this often and it not only provides a great diversion from adult realities but it also helps re-charge batteries for work and career.