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!