Batting Lessons

Earlier today, I posed this question as my facebook post, “So…how do you hit a curveball that you didn’t see coming?”

I’m having, as we all do, a few of those moments where I can hear the haunting and taunting of “Hey batter, batter.” This is not the time to be in a slump.

The first response I had to that question, was one of my own children asked me if THEY were the curveball. Well… yeah!  We had the discussion that curveballs aren’t bad, they are just unexpected and unanticipated and given the right training, you can definitely learn to hit a single and occasionally a homerun.

That is why I was sincerely soliciting some coaching from my peers who could, hopefully, help me with my game. Needless to say, I was not disappointed.

Directions were given.

 “Close your eyes and say a little prayer.”

“Keep your eye on the ball and don’t over think it.”

“You just have to hit it head on.”

“You hit it hard right down the middle.  Play hard and then win the game.”

I also obtained practical observance.

“You probably don’t… (hit a curveball that you don’t see coming.)”

“Intentionally.”

While yet others shared their “moment”.

 “I swung too late and fouled it high and right.”

Some gave me a dose of my own medicine and made me laugh.

 “Punt…oh wait…wrong sport.”

“Like a Ninja. Grasshopper.”

“You duck!“

I carefully considered each suggestion, all words of wisdom and tips with much reflection.  I have incredible friends (we’ll refer to them as fans in this entire metaphor) who wanted to offer me a game plan to succeed.

None of us know when a curveball is coming.  I hate that!  I like to be in control.  And then, I started to ponder “What’s the worst thing that could happen?”  I could strike out. My child could strike out? Hmmm… is that so terrible?  We’ll get another “at bat” another chance. 

Upon further reflection, I thought, what if we are at the right place in the batter’s box, cover the plate, and find our perfect stance.  We might, just maybe, be able to wait patiently for that pitch to break and just at the right moment connect that curveball on the sweet spot and hit it out of the park!

Whatever the outcome, we’ll figure out that curveball and be back for the next inning or the next game.  I am no quitter. My children are not quitters.

Either way… I’ll tell you what… I am definitely having a hot dog at the seventh inning stretch!

Ten Things I’ve Recently Learned, Re-Learned, or Realized …In the last 30 days

Let’s be clear, I am a slow learner – sometimes painfully slow.  There is the rare occasion that I am a one and done kinda gal, but more often than not it takes several attempts, efforts, experiences, melt-downs (you get the idea) for me to grasp a life lesson.

Much of my acquired wisdom comes from the advice and counsel of loving friends and family, some from the School of Hard Knocks (yes I believe it’s a real establishment), while other personal insight comes from my own worthy effort.  Most often, however, my inspiration comes as a gift, a tender mercy from a loving Heavenly Father who knows I am in need of inspiration, a lesson, or let’s face it --- a knock upside the head.

I hope this section will become a permanent part of my blogging attempts as I know I should have much to write about!

1.   When it comes to blogging and journaling, I start over, begin again, make a new attempt many, many, many times.

2.   Behind every great kid is a mom who thinks that she has done an awful job.

3.   Never quit!  You might just pass Statistics with an A!   Okay…maybe more like a B.  But it will be the best B you have ever earned!

4.   I was introduced to Baroque Music in my Humanities Class and I love it!  Who knew? Watch out family – you may be listening to Bach!

5.   Terrible two-year olds who you believe will NEVER grow up and leave home…do. And then, you are terribly sad.

6.   When it rains it doesn’t always pour, sometimes it just sprinkles.  In the words of a country song (I am a country girl), “Every storm runs out of rain”.  I believe it.  My favorite scripture is “And it came to pass.”

7.   It doesn’t REALLY matter if I make my bed every day. I really contemplated sharing this particular lesson because I have no doubt that my children are going to be most upset by this new discovery.

8.   No matter what I put in a glass of water, I still HATE water.  Limes, lemons, crystal light, or stevia cannot mask the tasteless liquid I supposedly need for hydration and weight loss!

9.   I am almost fifty.  I thought I was okay with it, but now I am not so sure…I’ll get back with ya on that one.  (Probably in my next blog a year from now when I’m closer to 51!)

10.I love to write – not because I’m good at it but because there’s something cleansing and refreshing about putting my mixture of thoughts, emotions and feelings onto a fresh, white piece of paper.