))
Empty Seats: Why I Haven't Been to a Ballgame Since Dad Died | Ep 265
Manage episode 491563387 series 3011734
Content provided by Founder of Voices for Voices®, Justin Alan Hayes, Founder of Voices for Voices®, and Justin Alan Hayes. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by Founder of Voices for Voices®, Justin Alan Hayes, Founder of Voices for Voices®, and Justin Alan Hayes or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://ppacc.player.fm/legal.
Empty Seats: Why I Haven't Been to a Ballgame Since Dad Died | Ep 265
MERCHANDISE SHOP: voices-for-voices.org/3QnokLU
SUPPORT VOICES FOR VOICES®:
https://www.voicesforvoices.org/shop/p/supporter
Ever wonder why certain family traditions feel impossible to continue after losing someone you love? That's exactly what I explore in this deeply personal episode about baseball games, family bonds, and the weight of absence.
Growing up, baseball games were the cornerstone of my family's shared experiences. From earliest memories of squeezing six people into my grandfather's Buick for gameday adventures to decades of attending games with my father, these weren't just sporting events—they were sacred rituals that connected generations. We'd pack sandwiches and watermelon in coolers, visit the same hot dog vendor year after year, and stand in the same spots where we'd chat with strangers who somehow became familiar faces despite never exchanging names.
What strikes me now is how these experiences weren't about constant conversation or entertainment. Before smartphones demanded our attention, we simply existed together, commenting occasionally on a pitcher's form or nodding in agreement about a missed play. The value wasn't in what we said but in our shared presence. These gameday traditions evolved over thirty years, adapting as grandparents passed and families changed, but maintaining their essence as touchpoints of connection.
Since my father's passing last year, I haven't attended a single game. The ballpark—once a place of joy—now represents his absence too painfully. My mother feels the same way. This isn't about physically being unable to go; it's about emotional readiness. And that's the message I want to leave you with: it's perfectly okay to take your time before resuming cherished activities that feel overwhelmingly empty without someone who made them special. Healing doesn't follow a timeline. Have you experienced something similar with your own family traditions? I'd love to hear how you've navigated these complex emotions.
Chapter Markers
0:00 Welcome and Charity Introduction
3:03 Family Traditions Through the Years
7:37 Baseball Games with Grandma and Grandpa
16:09 Ballpark Rituals with Dad
25:35 Missing Dad and Avoiding the Stadium
33:45 Healing at Your Own Pace
#EmptySeats #BallgameMemories #GriefJourney #SportsAndLoss #FatherSonBond #HealingThroughSport #BaseballTribute #CopingWithLoss #RememberingDad #LifeAfterLoss #EmotionalStorytelling #SportsNostalgia #FamilyTraditions #MentalHealthAwareness #HeartfeltReflections #TikTok #Instagram #VoicesforVoices #VoicesforVoicesPodcast #JustinAlanHayes #JustinHayes #help3billion
Chapters
1. Welcome and Charity Introduction (00:00:00)
2. Family Traditions Through the Years (00:03:03)
3. Baseball Games with Grandma and Grandpa (00:07:37)
4. Ballpark Rituals with Dad (00:16:09)
5. Missing Dad and Avoiding the Stadium (00:25:35)
6. Healing at Your Own Pace (00:33:45)
266 episodes
Share
