As we slide into baseball season, I’m reminded of one of the most colorful baseball coaches ever. And what a record he had: He served in WW II as a gunner’s mate on D-Day, played 19 years as catcher for the New York Yankees beginning in 1946, played in 18 All-Star games, 14 World Series, won three Most Valuable Player awards and later served as coach of both the New York Mets and New York Yankees. But Yogi Berra, born Lawrence Peter Berra, is probably best known for his “Yogi-isms” or sayings that may not have been logical, but had nuggets of truth within. Not all the sayings attributed to him were actually his, leading him to famously note, “I never said most of the things I said.”
Here are a few of my favorite Yogi-isms along with my own interpretation of their illogical logic:
“You’ve got to be very careful if you don’t know where you are going, because you might not get there.” Floating through life like a cork on water may take you places you don’t want to go. Setting goals, planning and strategizing your life will give you a path to follow, but sometimes, as Yogi said, “When you come to a fork in the road, take it.” Don’t let your plans blind you to opportunities that may take you in a whole new direction.
“Slump? I ain’t in no slump… I just ain’t hitting.” It’s easy to blame others, to blame things, to blame the universe for what’s happening in your life. Success comes from taking action and working to make your dreams come true. As Yogi said, “You wouldn’t have won if we’d beaten you.” Taking responsibility for your life will make you a better person.
“It’s tough to make predictions, especially about the future.” It’s easy to worry about what’s going to happen tomorrow, next week or next month, but most worry is useless. Rather than worrying about the future, focus on today and what you can do to make your future brighter.
“You can observe a lot by watching.” For scientists to prove a hypothesis they must observe and use their senses to understand. You wouldn’t cross a street without first observing whether any cars are close enough to kill you, right? Take time to observe the world around you and find where you can make a difference. And remember to listen more and talk less because as Yogi noted, “It was impossible to get a conversation going, everybody was talking too much.”
“Take it with a grin of salt.” Life is too short to do things that don’t move you forward. Don’t take things too seriously (unless you’re a brain surgeon) and learn to roll with the punches. Timing is everything. “You don’t have to swing hard to hit a home run. If you got the timing, it’ll go.”
“It ain’t over till it’s over.” Don’t give up on goals or life or anything. One lost battle does not lose the war and should things get really tough, always remember you can “Pair up in threes.”
Sportswriter and journalist Allen Barra described Berra’s witticisms as “distilled bits of wisdom which, like good country songs and old John Wayne movies, get to the truth in a hurry.” We miss your pithy comments Yogi and as we head into summer, just remember, “It ain’t the heat, it’s the humility.”
After several decades on-the-radio as a DJ and traffic reporter, Steve Woodburn MAS, stumbled, as most do, into the world of promotional products. He spent 27 years on the distributor side and the last three as a supplier, which gives him a unique perspective on this crazy business and life in general.