What we can learn from Darryl Strawberry (Celebrity Apprentice 2010)

This week’s episode of the Celebrity Apprentice surprised many. Darryl Strawberry, who had, really, done nothing wrong during the week’s tasks (actually, they guy did pretty much nothing) asked to be fired. Let me make this clear. He didn’t quit.

Now, I’m a baseball fan. But I didn’t know a lot about Strawberry. But I knew enough that when I saw a professional, idolized athelete take a break from his task to have a smoke and complain that he was just so tired, something was up. He went on, in testimonial voice overs, to express that people like him, you know, celebrities, didn’t wake until noon because they didn’t have to. They weren’t like “normal people.” They didn’t work 9-5. Man. this schedule they worked sucked.

Yeah. Tell me about it, Mr. Strawberry. Working 9 to 5 is exhausting. Try 24/7. But that’s not my point.

What I didn’t remember about Strawberry was that he’s been in and out of rehab over the years, incarcerated for several different offenses and has had bouts with cancer. He was an excellent ball player, with a few primes, and he and his wife now run a foundation for kids with autism.

He was tired. He might have been homesick. Bottom line: Strawberry didn’t want to be there. He didn’t really care too much about the game that is The Apprentice. And he recognized he was the weakest link. (Whether or not that was true.)

Look. We don’t like quitters. Trump hates them. And the last thing I want to teach my children that quitting is okay. Especially when you let your team down. However there are times when you recognize not that you need to quit, but that you’re not working out. You’re not fitting in. Your heart isn’t in something and its okay to let that thing go.

A few weeks ago, I blogged on Philly Moms Blog about doing too much and needing to cut back. Then last week I was diagnosed with Shingles and was forced to prioritize things in my life. I don’t like to quit. I highly doubt a competitive athlete like Mr. Strawberry likes to quit. But when you look at life as something you live one time, you recognize that you need to determine whats important, where you fit in, and where you’re going.

I’m certain Strawberry realized that Michael Johnson was about to be fired. He knew there was an alternative that made more sense for him. And for his team. He knew, beyond a doubt, that no matter the foundation for which he was playiing to raise funds, no matter the competition of the game, his life came first.

It should.

We should love ourselves enough to recognize that our lives come first.

By-the-way, according to Wikipedia, Trump awarded The Darryl Strawberry Foundation a $25,000 donation.

© 2010, Julie Meyers Pron. All rights reserved.

About Julie Meyers Pron

Julie Meyers Pron has written 810 post in this blog.

mom of 3 and wife, Julie is a former elementary school teacher and a Public Relations manager. She is the owner/editor of Just Precious, founding partner of Just Centsible, and a team member of Splash Creative Media. Julie is a PTOer, volunteer, elementary educator and that's just the beginning of the list!

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Tagged as: Celebrity Apprentice, Darryl Strawberry, The Apprentice