What do Hank Aaron, Paul McCartney, Eric Clapton, and Nelson Mandela have in common? They all made it to the very top in their respective professions, and after that…they keep on going! In each case, they loved what they did before they were at the top of their games, while they were at the top, and long after the intensity of the limelight had faded. What about you? What do you do for pure love?

I remember when Hank Aaron hit record-breaking home run number 715. Television shows were interrupted all across the country as the relatively young black man from southern Alabama stroked Al Downing’s pitch over the wall in left center. With one swing, he broke a record that had stood for thirty-nine years. At thirty-nine years of age at the time, Aaron’s baseball skills were cresting, or had actually begun to subside. He could have gone out on top as Ted Williams had done. But he didn’t. He kept playing. He eventually moved to the American League where he was only used as a pinch hitter because his body could no longer field the baseball at a major-league level. After that, he moved to the front office of the Braves organization where he is today, helping to shape an organization that gives talented young men from a number of countries and diverse circumstances, a chance to live out their dreams as well. He still loves baseball, and he is never far away from the field.

I remember at the time, many people said that Hank should have gone out while he was on top. I never thought so. I remember saying, I hope he plays until he can’t sneak a ball through the infield. In my heart I encouraged him to stay on…not for the money, not to prove anything to anyone. I wanted him to stay on just to demonstrate his love of the game and the power of that love.

I’d like to write more about this topic on a personal level tomorrow, but today I’m interested in your thoughts. What do you do for the pure love of it? I know for Sound Traveler we do the music because we love it, because it helps us to actually be who we were meant to be. I expect to make music as long as God allows me the breath and ability to do so. – Bob Tatum

3 Comments to “SongTravelin’: 11.18.10 — If You Do It for Love….”

• November 18, 2010 at 9:34 am
  Laurence says:

  Oh, please! All those guys were doing what they did for money, fame, power or a combination of those things. They didn’t quit because they couldn’t let go. They couldn’t face reality. Nothing is more pathetic than some old guy trying to play a young man’s game — whatever it is!
• November 18, 2010 at 5:31 pm
  Kay says:

  what do I do for love? hmmmm……
• November 18, 2010 at 10:46 pm
  Patty says:

  I do a lot of things for love. I married for love. I teach (challenging though it can sometimes be) out of love. I share a dance floor with good friends whenever I can with love. And, of course, I create music for love…and because I absolutely need to.