Intentional disruptions
How a midday catch can be a week-maker and a better portable laptop stand. For paying readers, what you CAN deduct from your home office.
An interruption—scheduled or otherwise—makes you more productive over the course of your day and even week. Exhibit A, my game of catch last Monday.
Why it matters
The catch was with my oldest client, Steve. By that, I mean I’ve been working with him for the longest amount of time. As for the game of catch, I’ll get to the why in a second. Yet playing catch with somebody I’ve worked with for nearly two decades, followed by lunch, transformed the entire week in a GREAT way. It took the edge off and reminded both of us of that having a little fun during the workday is allowed.
Going deeper
Playing catch wasn’t a random act. Our friend and client, Scott Yelle, is playing catch every day for 365 days and he started on January 27. His Catch2Heal campaign is part of the work he does for the Jackson Yelle Foundation. Jackson, Scott’s son was killed by an impaired driver in 2023.
The Jackson Yelle Foundation raises money and donates to causes Jackson would have loved. Jackson played on the Elon University club baseball team. One of the primary beneficiaries of donations has been Major League Baseball’s Nike Reviving Baseball in the Inner Cities (RBI). The Foundation has donated to Nike RBI programs in 18 MLB cities last year and will do so at 12 this year.
Playing catch has been added to the mix.
Why am I playing catch?
I lost my stepson in 2019. We used to love to play catch, especially those early years between the ages of 6 and 12. He would be turning 30 this year. So, I created my own catch journey. Only the intentional disruption will be to play catch once a week until his birthday on August 18.
That’s it. I’ll donate to The Foundation for every game of catch I play. Yet what I found after the first outing was that the connection that takes place during a simple of game of catch is transcendent and healing.
The benefits of one catch
Great time and conversation with my client
Supporting Scott on a tough day (his first catch was on what would have been Jackson’s 23rd birthday)
Made a new FB friend, Ethan Bryan, who was one of the first to take on a catch journey and write about it in a Year of Playing Catch.
Connected and reconnected with a handful of folks willing to play catch even in the middle of a New England winter
Follow the catch journeys
To follow Scott’s catch journey, visit Catch2Heal on Instagram. This blog post also explains the journey and the work of the Jackson Yelle Foundation. To make a donation to the Foundation, go here.
And it doubles as a footstool
3 Levels Adjustable Folding Step Stool
Great to use as a computer stand. Far more stable. Less wobbling. Plus, if you ever had to reach one of those high places. Also quite portable for those days when you’re working outside the home office.
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