I hate playing baseball and always have for several great reasons:
- I suck at baseball. I cannot throw fast, am terrible at fielding grounders and was never good at catching pop flys.
- Baseballs are hard and hurt. It hurts when you get beaned by a pitch. It hurts your hands when you hit the ball with a bat. It hurts when a grounder pops up and hits you in the chest or the face. (Ask me how I know)
- It’s boring, unless you are a star player who sees a lot of action in a position like pitcher, catcher or shortstop. Hanging out in left field hoping that nobody hit the ball toward me was one of the worst ways I spent my 3rd grade summer.
The good news is that I don’t have to play baseball. So I don’t.
Throughout my life, I’ve intentionally opted out from other things like baseball:
- Fashion
- Recreational Drugs
- Consumerism
- Loud Music
- Crowded Events
Clearly, all of these all personal preferences that matter to nobody but me. I’m didn’t opt out to make a statement or “give the finger to the man”.
The older I get, the more I decide not to play ball.
I no longer vote. I don’t eat anything except meat and eggs. I don’t use dating apps or even date. I don’t have health insurance. I retired early without a pension, health insurance or income. I could care less about keeping up with the Joneses.
What’s my point? My point is that we all have more choices than we think. By choosing a minimalist lifestyle, I can avoid many of the frustrations I once had when I thought I “had to” play the game.
But this also means, I am giving up the chance to reap any of the rewards that come from playing the game.
I’m OK with that.
I’ve played the game already.