We like to pretend life is a straight highway, but deep down, we all know it’s full of unexpected detours.
My eldest son is entering his senior year of college, and like so many young adults standing on the edge of adulthood, his future isn’t entirely set in stone. He has big dreams, a clear field of interest, and a deep, lifelong passion for the game of baseball.
For a long time, he hoped to follow in his father’s footsteps and play professionally. It’s an incredible dream, but it is also an extraordinarily difficult peak to climb. Deep down, he has come to realize that even if he isn’t standing on the field in uniform, he still wants to be an active part of the game.
He’s remarkably knowledgeable—the kind of sharp, analytical mind that would make an amazing general manager or sports agent. He also speaks about the game with a natural eloquence that could easily land him behind a broadcast mic, following in his grandfather’s legendary footsteps.
Yet, despite all these talents, the exact path forward still feels uncertain.
Recently, we sat down for a very honest, heart-to-heart conversation. Like me, he carries a spiritual side—he might not express it quite as openly, but he is deeply intuitive and reflective. I told him he needed to step back from the daily grind and truly visualize what he wants out of his life.
“What kind of life do you actually envision for yourself?” I asked him. “What kind of home do you want to live in? What do you want to do for fun? What type of woman do you see yourself settling down with?”
I encouraged him to start manifesting those specific details, because it is truly remarkable how the universe moves when you set a clear intention. But intent must always be paired with grounded reality. Sometimes, you walk down a path for years only to realize you’ve hit a dead end. When that happens, you don’t give up on the dream. You pivot. You turn around and find another route.
There is always more than one road to your destination.
He took that advice to heart. Mid-way through his junior year, he proactively decided to add a minor to his degree—opening a brand-new avenue to reach his ultimate goal. As a parent, watching your child take active ownership of their own future is everything you ever hope for.
But long after our conversation ended, his words stayed with me. I found myself looking in the mirror and reflecting on my own life, my own choices, and the goals I had quietly set aside.
For decades, my primary role has been the anchor—the caretaker running the home, managing the endless daily schedules, and making the quiet sacrifices that keep a family grounded. But what about the things I wanted to do just for me—the dreams that have been simmering on the back burner for years?
I love to travel. I love to write. I love experiencing new cultures and connecting with new people. Growing up in a baseball family and later marrying a professional athlete opened incredible doors for me, giving me invaluable life experiences. But standing in this current season of life, I realized that so many of things I wanted accomplish and simply been put on pause. Only recently have I set the intention to finally map out my own fresh chapter.
Watching my son plan his next steps was a powerful reminder: It is rarely a straight shot for any of us.
We have to be willing to pivot, pull over, or take an alternate route when the map changes. Life doesn’t come with a pre-programmed GPS telling us precisely which turn to make. It is navigated through trial, error, intuition, and faith. Those detours aren’t wasted time—they are precisely what shape us into who we are meant to be.
If a road closes in front of you today, don’t give up on the destination.
Just take the next turn.
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