What Thursday Night’s Phillies–Dodgers Game Reminded Me About Relationships

If you know me, you know I’m all about baseball ⚾️

So of course I was watching the Phillies–Dodgers game on Thursday night.

It was one of those unforgettable endings... A heartbreaking play when the Phillies pitcher made a huge error that cost them the game and their season. You could see it all over his face: the shock, the heartbreak, the weight of the moment.

But what stood out to me wasn’t the mistake.

It was what happened after.

As he walked toward the dugout, his teammates ran to him. They wrapped their arms around him. His manager was waiting on the steps, pulling him in close. No blame. No anger. Just presence. Just people choosing connection when it mattered most.

That right there, that’s the power of showing up for someone.

It’s the reminder that we don’t have to fix everything; sometimes the most powerful thing we can do is simply be there.

Because we all have moments like that pitcher.

Moments when we drop the ball... in business, in leadership, in life.

Moments when we say the wrong thing, forget the right thing, or miss the mark completely.

And those moments don’t define us.

How we show up afterward does.

Do we run toward people or away from them?

Do we meet mistakes with grace or judgment?

Do we remind each other that we’re still on the same team?

Real leadership, real friendship, and real love, they show up when it’s hard.

So this week, whether you’re the one who missed the play or the one watching someone else stumble, choose to be the person who runs toward.

Because relationships aren’t built in the wins.

They’re built in the moments that test us.
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💗 Barb