The Significance of Being Uniquely You
November 2, 2022
Find Your Way Home
January 3, 2023
It is my honor to introduce you to Lee Faaborg of Grand Island, Nebraska, who was inducted into the Nebraska Softball Hall of Fame in December 2021. He managed men’s fast-pitch softball teams for over 25 years, and his teams won 16 league titles, 11 state tournaments, two regional tournaments and one national championship (more on that in a bit).
The past few years for Lee have been rough. After spending most of his career as the senior manager/president of a regional cluster of fast-food restaurants in central Nebraska, he began to feel the squeeze from a new ownership group—his fourth group of owners.
Six months later, he had a major stroke.
A few months after that, he had double bypass heart surgery.
By the end of that year, he made the excruciating decision to take the high road and retire.
Around this time, he learned that his best friend from high school had terminal cancer. One of his other best friends, with whom he had coached a men’s fastpitch softball team, was battling recurring colon cancer. In 2001, their Cinderella team won the national men’s fastpitch softball tournament in Hoosiers fashion.
Lee’s high school friend died in August 2020 and his fellow coach died 364 days later. He eulogized both at their memorial services and brought everyone, including me, to tears.
But then, Lee (back row, third from left in the national championship photo) was notified of his acceptance into the Nebraska Softball Hall of Fame, and we cried again. This time, however, they were tears of joy and thankfulness. He so deserves this recognition.
Life can’t always be explained or understood. However, I believe the essence of living is not about the magnitude of the challenges and resulting traumas we face, but how we deal with them and ultimately persevere.
Lee is the epitome of resilience. He is someone I idolize and admire for so many reasons.
The main reason I adore him is because he is my brother. The one who relentlessly picked on me while growing up but has always been there, encouraging me to never let up.
This holiday season, I pause to give thanks to influencers like Lee who—no matter how difficult the challenge—never cave.
Cheers and blessings to those who urge us to keep moving forward.
