I've been doing this since I was a kid. I'm always going to play

Hear the spirited words of Manny Machado, who declared with the ease of one at peace with himself: “I’ve been doing this since I was a kid. I’m always going to play the game with a smile on my face, blowing bubbles, sunflower seeds, whatever it is. That’s just who I am.” Though born in the realm of sport, these words shine as eternal wisdom. They remind us that the greatest strength is not always found in solemnity, but often in joy, and that to carry the smile of one’s childhood into the struggles of adulthood is to keep the soul alive amidst the pressures of the world.

The origin of this truth lies in the simple love of the game. Machado began as a child, playing not for trophies, not for glory, but for delight. That delight became his armor, his identity, his guiding star. Many who rise to greatness forget the innocence of their beginnings—they turn play into labor, passion into burden. But Machado, in his words, swears that he will not betray the child within him. He will chew sunflower seeds, blow bubbles, and smile, for he knows that these small acts are not trivial—they are reminders that the heart must remain free even when the stakes are high.

History offers us mirrors of this lesson. Consider Roberto Clemente, the legendary Puerto Rican ballplayer who carried joy, dignity, and compassion onto the diamond. Though burdened by the weight of racism, expectation, and the fight for justice, Clemente never lost the playfulness that made him beloved. His game was not stripped of spirit by hardship; instead, his love for it made him radiant even in struggle. Like Machado, Clemente proved that greatness is not only measured in numbers, but in the joy and humanity with which one plays.

Yet this truth reaches beyond baseball. Think of Mozart, who as a child prodigy filled the courts of Europe with music. Though he labored endlessly to create, his compositions were filled with laughter, mischief, and exuberance. He, too, carried the innocence of his youth into his craft. And though life pressed hard upon him, his genius never abandoned the sense of play that made his work immortal. Machado’s words are of the same spirit: that joy is the true engine of enduring mastery.

The meaning of this teaching is profound: if you wish to endure in life’s journey, you must never cast away the spirit of play. The world will try to weigh you down with expectation, criticism, and responsibility, but if you let your smile remain, if you hold onto the small rituals of delight—be it sunflower seeds or bubbles—you will keep alive the fire that first called you to your path. To forget joy is to betray yourself; to hold onto joy is to remain invincible.

The lesson is clear: do not let the burdens of age, of duty, or of ambition rob you of the delight that first awakened your calling. Whatever your field—be it sport, art, work, or family—remember the child who began the journey with laughter. That child still dwells within you, and it is from that place of joy that your truest strength flows. Smile when the world would have you scowl, play when the world would have you toil, and you will endure.

Practical action must follow. Each day, nurture your joy in small ways: keep a ritual that reminds you of the innocence of your beginnings. Laugh at your failures, smile at your challenges, and never let go of what makes you feel alive. Share your joy with others, for in doing so, you will awaken theirs. Let your life, like Machado’s game, be marked not only by excellence but by delight.

Thus the teaching is sealed: to smile is to endure, to play is to live, and to keep the spirit of youth is to triumph. Manny Machado’s words are not merely about baseball; they are a hymn to life itself. Let us then live as he plays—with a smile on our faces, joy in our hearts, and the spirit of play guiding our every step. For this is not only who he is—it is who we are meant to be.