Red Sox Nation has taken over my soul

This happens every April. Winter has beaten me down, with the cold, the dark, the snow, etc. I merely survive January and February, to get to March. Only March ends up being the ultimate head-fake, serving up only continuing cold temperatures, no work holidays, and 31 days that seem to last about 310.

But April finally arrives. The days get longer, the temperatures start to moderate. The trees start to bloom. The Masters Golf tournament is played. And my favorite thing of all, baseball, begins in earnest.

For a long, long time, it was a badge of honor to be a Red Sox fan, like myself. We would smile, and joke about the fact that this "could be" the year, but deep down, we knew that there would always be a new, and more gut-wrenching way to watch our beloved team break our hearts.

All of that changed in 2004, with the World Series victory, and the release of all of that pent up frustration, and anger with the baseball Gods. Now, I could relax, and watch a baseball game in peace, without ever having to answer those irksome questions, "how could your team have ever traded that Ruth guy away? Aren't the Sox ever going to win another World Series? "

Since 2004, the Red Sox have won a second title, and I have now come to see this new team of scrappy, can-do guys as my salvation. They are my motivation to get me through these days of economic downturns, layoffs, swine flu, partisan bickering, and torture memos.

Watching the Red Sox/Yankees series this weekend really reminded me that without certain passions in life, all of the political rhetoric, and hum-drum of our daily lives isn't worth the time and effort. We go to work, and take care of our families because we love them. But certain things, we all do for ourselves.

For me, watching the Red Sox sweep the Yankees this weekend was a reminder of what I work so hard for. To support and root for a team that has seen hard times, and has seen defeat, sometimes as heartbreaking as there can be in sports, and to have also achieved the ultimate success--it is something I struggle to explain to my wife, and to the non-sport fanatic. But it is something that I can still marvel at much as I did when I was 8 years old. It's a reminder that there are always new chances in life. New beginnings. And that giving your pursuits your best effort can mean victory, even in the face of a superior foe. It is the idea that sometimes, wanting it more than the more talented opposition IS enough to win the day. And it motivates you to come to work the next day with a resolve to do better than yesterday.

Unlike basketball or hockey, baseball really means Spring and Summer are here. Possibilities are endless. The world has the opportunity to make itself over once more. And do it better this time. For me, that's the greatest thing about Spring. And baseball. And life in general. It's never too late for a do-over. And a new chance to win at something, even in the face of long odds.