I feel thankful for the Seattle organization and the city. The

The words of Robinson Canó are filled with gratitude and remembrance: “I feel thankful for the Seattle organization and the city. The fans embraced me right away, and I had a great time there.” Though spoken of baseball and of one chapter in a career, these words rise beyond sport into the eternal truth of belonging. For no matter how skilled an individual may be, no greatness is complete without the embrace of a community. Canó, a player of renown, did not take such acceptance for granted. Instead, he honored it with thankfulness, showing that the truest reward of a journey is not only the victories earned, but the people who welcome you along the way.

The organization and the city he names are more than institutions and geography; they are the living fabric of community—the managers, teammates, and fans who together create a place where one can labor with joy and purpose. To be welcomed into such a fabric is no small gift. For Canó, leaving behind the lights of New York and stepping into a new chapter with Seattle, the uncertainty of change could have been heavy. Yet his words show that the embrace he received lifted that burden, transforming transition into blessing. The fans embraced me right away—a simple phrase, yet one that carries with it the comfort of being seen, valued, and loved.

The ancients knew this truth well. Consider the tale of Odysseus, welcomed at the court of the Phaeacians after years of wandering. Though he was a stranger, their hospitality restored his spirit and gave him the strength to return home. In the same way, the embrace of Seattle’s fans gave Canó not only a platform to perform, but a sense of home in a new land. Such hospitality is a sacred act, one that transforms a foreigner into kin, and a new beginning into a cherished memory.

The phrase “I had a great time there” speaks to the joy that arises when gratitude meets belonging. It is not the joy of statistics or records alone, but the deeper joy of knowing one’s presence was accepted, one’s efforts appreciated, one’s life enriched by the people and the place. Such joy endures beyond the length of a contract or the span of a career. It becomes a part of memory, a treasure carried forward long after the cheers have quieted.

There is in Canó’s words also a teaching of humility. Though he was a star, he does not speak of what he gave to the city first, but of what the city gave to him. This reversal is the mark of wisdom: to recognize that no matter how great one’s talent, the embrace of a community is never owed, but always a gift. By being thankful, he reveals the proper posture of the heart—that even the strongest must bow to the grace of belonging.

The lesson for us is clear: when we find ourselves welcomed, we must cherish it. Whether in a new workplace, a new city, or a new stage of life, the people who embrace us give us strength beyond measure. Let us not forget to be grateful for them, to speak our thanks aloud, and to honor the bonds of community that allow us to flourish. Gratitude binds the individual to the collective, transforming personal achievement into shared victory.

Therefore, let us follow Canó’s example. When you are embraced by others, be thankful. When you are welcomed, return the gift with humility and joy. And when you see a stranger, a newcomer, one entering your circle, be as the fans of Seattle were—embrace them quickly, so that their burden becomes light and their joy multiplied. For the wisdom of Robinson Canó teaches us this: greatness is magnified when it is shared, and the deepest victories of life are not measured in trophies, but in the warmth of belonging.