Baseball co-dependence

It has been scientifically proven that winter and depression are significantly correlated. Some contract 'seasonal affective disorder' in the time immediately following the end of the World Series. Others persevere until the season deep days see Jack Frost reduce sunlight to morale crushing windows that test the souls of those bear like in synchronicity with the sun. It is in these condensed days that many gaze forward to the horizon in hopes of seeing the light of America's past time peeking its eyes promiscuously above the bleak and gray recess of the Kansas City skyline.

Whether coincidence, or not, baseball buds within two weeks of the weather predicting gopher; a prophecy of sorts for the oncoming months of daily baseball contests. As the grogginess of winter depression wears off, one must consider whether it is simply change of season that medicates the brain's frazzled synapses; or if there are other, greater forces at work that play on the human psyche.

Everyone deals with stress and worry that contributes to mental health deterioration. Family problems, deep hate of co-workers, a close one's death, financial issues, legal challenges, divorce, addiction, our refusal to convert to the metric system; just because a one armed kid lost a leg mining material for your cell phone doesn't make your struggles any less real.

The pain and anxiety of daily life can be tempered or exacerbated by the confluence of existence with outside influence. It is easy for one to feel a snowball effect when things are bad; seemingly every random occurrence of chance seems deeply averse to any positive outcome. Similarly, when there are beacons of light that present themselves, it is easier to deflect and not allow the sadness of life to metastasize into deeper affliction. These events present themselves in a wide variety of ways and it is often one's own perception that guides how they are recognized.

There are people that don't like baseball; it is too slow...boring. For some, the monotony that keeps others from embracing the game is the very reason for the symbiotic relationship they have. There is a peaceful nature in knowing that 3 hours a day, six days a week; across many months will be filled by what possibly the greatest distraction in the history of the human condition.

Let us shed the frigid cloak of winter and rejoice as our orbit passes the midpoint between the Perihelion and Aphelion. The days ahead offer respite from the trudgery of actuality. Take a deep breath of baseball and exhale all of life's stress.

For three hours a day until long days turn to extended nights, may your mind and soul be in the best shape of their lives.