This sponsored column was written as part of a paid partnership with Citi.

As I write, our team is headed back to the city from a quick little trip to Baltimore. It’s a happy flight and the boys are in a great mood, because we just snapped a losing streak.

Experiencing this 2020 year and season has been tumultuous to say the least. There have been peaks and valleys scattered throughout the days and weeks of this year. Personally, the season has seen more lows than highs. Ultimately, every season for every baseball player does. It’s a game of failure. That’s why it’s the most difficult game in the world.

Baseball is my profession and I take ultimate pride in what I do. I love my job with every ounce of me. I’m blessed to be playing this game, especially during a year like this one. I give it my all every day between those lines and no one can say otherwise. With the failures and successes that I’ve experienced, I’m proud. I earn my successes and I wear my failures. Failure is something that is necessary to grow professionally and personally. I acknowledge it, but I never want to accept failure as a friend. It’s not in my nature. When I compete, I’m in it to win. Always.

One of the biggest things that 2020 has reinforced is that I can’t resist what I cannot change. I can’t change what’s going on around the country or around the world. The only thing I can control is how I act and how I go about my business day in and day out. I’m thankful for the many blessings in my life. Every day is a new opportunity to be great and impact someone else in a positive way.

2020 gives me hope. Even in the fire, I feel that collectively we are walking through this together. United. Everyone around the world has been affected by what’s going on. Navigating this year has made me thankful and gracious so much more for things in my life. I’m thankful for so many loved ones, being able to play ball this year, my teammates and my health.

I am also thankful for the opportunity to help children living in hunger. We are getting close to hitting the $1,000,000 mark in all-time donations to No Kid Hungry through the Citi Community Home Runs program. It would be an incredible milestone to hit this season.

Lastly, to everyone reading this: I have a challenge for you. Spread positivity to at least one person each day. In times like these, we never know what challenges an individual can be experiencing. There is so much negative energy being spewed out into the world. By putting out positivity from an individual level daily, we will all rise together. Thank you guys for your constant support!

As always,

LFGM