If you have read any of my blogs over the last 18 months you
will know that I have been utterly obsessed with relationships. On multiple
occasions I have sat down and really analyzed the role that various people play
in my life. This week I asked myself,
“What is your motivation for sustaining your relationships?” In all honesty it is because I could
identify the purpose that each person was serving in my life or that I was serving
in his or her life. I found value in each one that I thought about.
Each purpose was different but none of them more or less important than
another.
As I was thinking I began
placing people in my personal relationship lineup. Mostly because I am having baseball
withdrawals but that is another story! While trying to figure out where
everyone would go, I started thinking about an ideal world, and where I would
put my significant other (to be clear I’m still not dating). My knee jerk was that they would be my #1, my
stud, my lead off, and then I realized, I don’t want my significant other to be
my lead off hitter!! The lead off hitter only has one job (albeit an
important one)! "The" person better be able to bat clean up or they are for sure not the one!
So I present to you The Relationship Lineup! If you can
fill a whole lineup with the following types of people you are one lucky
individual.
- The lead off batter gets everything started. They set the pace, start the fire, and get the whole team hyped up. This is the person that is stable and steady. They are always there to help you see the bigger picture, keep you on track and motivate you when you are down. You can always count on them!
- The two spot is your ride or die batter! This person is there to lay down sacrifices with no questions asked. They pick you up when they need to, and they keep you moving when you aren’t sure if you are going in the right direction. They are all about making sure you get where you are going safely, and they are okay with laying their self on the line to make sure it happens!
- The three hitter is the person that has got your back in more ways than one! They bring variety to the table. If they need to sacrifice they can do that, if they need to get things started, hey they can do that too! This person is often your last chance person. You are out of time, out of ideas, and you are going to them in pinch. All the while hoping (and ultimately knowing) they can help you out of a jam. Sometimes they are just there to keep things flowing, keep you relaxed, and keep you focused.
- The person batting clean up well THIS IS YOUR PERSON!! You trust them more than anyone else on the team. They aren’t scared of a challenge and all the crazy of the game doesn’t phase them. You know they are going to get the job done no matter what. When everything is going wrong they become the lead off hitter and are there to get you back on track. If everything is going perfect they are there to elevate that perfection with a grand slam. They can play the role of each of the batters ahead of them and do it with confidence. You never question them because there is nothing this person can't do and you believe in them with your whole heart. When the game is ugly this is person you hope is holding the bat.
- This batter is your all or nothing friend. You don’t always need them, and you may not always call on them, but they are always there if you do. They are kind of the unsung heroes of the lineup.
- I will actually address 6-9 here. These are your people that you never know what you are going to get. Sometimes they are there and you are really close to them. Sometimes they are just kind of in the background and you hope you don’t have to ask them to do anything substantial. They are still important, because in the event you really really need them they have the ability to step up, but they aren’t always who you are counting on when you need the big plays.
