Peace of Mind: Yogi Berra Photo Contest

While playing in American Legion baseball, Yogi Berra received his famous nickname from a friend who said he resembled a Hindu yogi whenever he sat around with arms and legs crossed waiting to bat or while looking sad after a losing game.

I understand about indecision
But I don’t care if I get behind
People livin’ in competition
All I want is to have my peace of mind
-Boston

When you’re a kid, you fantasize about freedom. About getting to do whatever you want to do without your parents or teachers telling you not to.

I got a flashback to that feeling last week when my wife left to take our daughter back to college in Austin. All of a sudden I was completely alone in our house.

Let me be clear – my wife doesn’t prevent me from doing anything. It’s not like that.

But I still woke up the morning after they left and thought: “Freeeeeeeedom! I can do whatever I want!”

But then the reality kicked in.

I can do whatever I want any day.

I already had freedom.

I realized that while kids want freedom, adults mainly want peace of mind.

It’s weird because in a way, peace of mind is like the opposite of freedom. It’s security.

But how do you achieve peace of mind? It’s so elusive; there’s always something to worry about. At least a little.

I wish a little bit of it came in toothpaste, along with the flouride.

My two personal recipes for peace of mind are:

* Strenuous exercise. Whether it’s working out or an intense basketball game, breaking a good sweat always puts my mind at ease. For a while.

* Going to an “away” game, where I don’t have skin in the game. Don’t get me wrong; I love going to see the Yankees, Knicks, and the rest of my teams. But I also depend on a lot of those players for my business, so it’s hard to totally relax while watching them. A Michigan football or basketball game with my son in Ann Arbor? There I feel totally free. Same with a Syracuse lacrosse game, or women’s basketball game.

WHAT IS YOUR RECIPE FOR PEACE OF MIND?

Tell me in the comments section below. (Go to the online blog to comment.)

One commenter will win an autographed photo of Yogi Berra. (FYI: NOT the one pictured above.)