Deep to Left Field!

I won today. My new orders are for COMNAVNORWEST - flag duty doing public affairs for a new admiral in what seems like a new life. Things just can't get much better than this.
So my only analogy to the recent series of incredibly fortunate events in my life is baseball. Being a player, you go through slumps and even the hottest player to ever grace the game can fizzle out. When that player tries to come back on another team or another sport and don't make the cut there either, it's catastrophic to their person - but you keep stepping up to the plate to swing, miss and have the crowd and game insiders tell you it's over and you don't, nor will you ever make it again. Even your accomplishments and impressive stats don't matter because you're nothing now - but you keep swinging, long after you forgot why you do it.
Then you get a hold of a few good pitches and show remnants of what you once were. In the end, every time, you choke or things don't work out and you look for another team.
What happens when you negotiate another contract w/ the team you did best? Can you dust off and start to work out the cob webs? Can you ever perform like that again after the fire went out? Once it's out - it's out.
Then it happens. Someone hangs one over the plate and you smash it - just awesome enough to start connecting w/ the ball again on a regular basis. You start making bigger and bigger plays - almost as incredibly as you used to. Things start to feel right and you start to worry you'll lose it again, but you keep stacking numbers. Soon you're back to player of the month and leading the league in hits, RBIs and even some clutch homers. Each of these is deliberate and seems like it came on demand as it once did.
Then you do it. You carry the team, and yourself, out of the deepest slump - from the worst player and team in baseball. We win through the latter portion of the season and sweep the playoffs and series. It's a full-scale comeback.
As a player you find yourself in a place similar to the one you were in before; coming off a terrible season only to be the champion you always knew you were.
I'm there now. I just won the world series and now it's time to win next season. I managed to survive the hard times, but it's only worthwhile if you win the coming season too. I know what can happen if you just live for today w/ no idea of tomorrow. Plan long-term for the win. It's about playing well and executing your long-term strategy. I have a plan and it's working. Hold on everyone cause' here we go!