Mr. Mayhem and the Prolific Dreamers

Strike One, You're Out (Intro to Before You Cry)

Strike one, you're out
The sky is filled with doubt
You break the rules and take the fall
Just remember you'll stand tall

Strike two, it all seems so unfair
You'll still feel the pain
The anguish builds and will not cease
But before you cry

Take a deep breath in peace

Strike three,
The pressures of life can be daunting
But before you cry

Look for a new dawning

You will take a beating and be set back
But this should not make you fret or lack
Heavenly help will be sure to shine
Just remember

Don't you cry before you take that final line

Now hit the grand slam and the ground running.

- Mayhem

"The sun hung low in the sky, a glaring reminder of my own failures. I should have anticipated the consequences, but I was too naïve and too desperate to believe in a better outcome.

Strike one, you're out.

The words echoed around me as I walked home, the last remaining vestiges of the day haunting my mind. I was out. No more chances. No more hope for redemption. I felt numb.

When I arrived home, I went straight to my bedroom and collapsed into my bed. I wanted to cry, but my eyes stayed rigidly locked in place.

All the emotions bubbling up within me stayed in check. I was tired of crying. I was tired of trying.

The past few months had been a rollercoaster of uncertainty and desperation. Everything had slowly begun to deteriorate until I had nothing left. I had put my life in the hands of others hoping that had been the answer, but it was not. I allowed disappointment and envy to cloud my judgement and here I was, starting again from scratch.

I lay there for a while, my thoughts slowly forming into one single thought: "Before you cry, pick yourself up and start fresh."

I had been given a second chance after all and it was not too late to start anew. Sure, I had taken a few major missteps, but I still had the opportunity to learn from them and be better. I had the power to make this my story, not one of sorrow and regret but of courage and strength.

As the darkness slowly filled the room, I took a deep breath and made the decision to start again. Tomorrow would be a new day. I would begin putting the pieces of myself and my life back together and this time, it would be the right way.

I believed that the saying "strike one, you're out" meant that if I messed up even once, then I was doomed to failure. It was a sign that I was permanently doomed, that I could never succeed or become anything.

I used to go through every day feeling like no matter how hard I worked, I always came one step short of achieving my goals. I was afraid to make any mistakes or take any risks, for fear of being eliminated right away. Whenever I did mess up, it felt like a huge blow, an ultimate sign of failure.

One day, I realized something. I realized that I wasn't "out" just because I made a mistake. In fact, it wasn't a permanent sign of failure or the end of the road. Instead, it was a chance for me to learn and grow. It was a chance to reflect and understand my mistake and the steps I should take to correct it.

So, before you cry "Strike One," remind yourself that mistakes are part of the learning process, that you're still in the game, and that you can still succeed even if you don't get it right the first time.

It's been a difficult but much-needed lesson, and one that I'm grateful to have learned.

Before You Cry Coming 4/25/2024