Limp High Five

"Celebrating creates an atmosphere of recognition and positive energy. Imagine a team winning the World Series without champagne spraying everywhere. And yet companies win all the time and let it go without so much as a high five. Work is too much a part of life not to recognize moments of achievement. Make a big deal out of them. If you don't, no one will." Jack Welch

You are about to view a video. Let me set the scene. It was June 1985. My Little League team made it all the way to the championship game. I was a mediocre hitter and figured to buckle under the pressure of the big game. But as you are about to see, the Gods smiled down upon me and I hit not one, but two home runs in the big game. Over the past 24 years, I've shared this highlight with countless friends, colleagues, and many first dates. And all too often, after watching this video, the viewer will say, "It's great...but what's with the limp fives?"

As I rounded third base during both home run trots, I dished out a series of very limp high fives. The first person to bring them to my attention was Coach Jack, my Little League coach. In fact, in my upcoming book, I have a whole chapter about how I believe that Coach Jack's intimidating comments during Little League led me to develop Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Anyhoo...

Toward the end of this memorable championship game, Coach Jack approached me in the dugout and through the nastiness of his alcoholic breath, I heard him say, "If you're gonna high five like that, you might as well grab my ass and kiss me on the lips...for cryin out loud high five like a real man!"

I know what you must be thinking and I agree with you, Coach Jack was very inspirational. Thanks to Coach Jack, I experienced so much during my 12th year of life. He was the man behind my first sip of alcohol, my first cigarette, my first day trip to Mexico, and my first kiss (not with Coach Jack but rather an older woman named Rosarita in a place Coach Jack called a 'bro-thal'). Those things are tiny memories in the scope of time. But Coach Jack taught me a much greater lesson that endures to this day: if you're gonna high five, make contact. (CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE VIDEO)

*****

There is no rule in the economic stimulus package let alone the sacred texts that says, "Thou shalt not celebrate!" Everyday in life, things happen...a rainbow shines, a child laughs, Jack Bauer overcomes. You can choose to dismiss those things amidst the enormous shadows enveloping the world. Or you can choose to see the brilliant contrast of bright light against deep darkness.

The cycle of light and dark, day and night is only relevant to one confined by the earth's atmosphere. Rise just sixty miles into space and there shines the sun without interruption. Darkness is only a matter of perspective. So if you, like me, are scared of the dark, rise up! Live with a renewed passion to celebrate the little things. Not a day should go by without some symbolic gesture of triumph over fear, and faith over doubt. As I've come to understand...24 years later...what good is a towering home run followed by a limp high five?

To pre-order my book Yeah Dave's Guide to Livin' the Moment which comes our March 10, 2009, click here.

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