My youngest
daughter has spent a majority of her life on the ball field. She has a passion
for softball that is as powerful today as it was the first day she picked up a
bat. I have seen her at her lowest of lows and I have seen her highest of highs
on that field of red dirt, chalk and grass. I always understood that passion
because I saw the love that she had for the game and I knew how much her heart
was in it. What I didn’t see all those years on the ball field though was the
life lessons that she was learning while playing the sport that she loved so
dearly. It wasn’t until Kailee got into college that I saw what she had gained
through playing softball. It’s as if every aspect of her life was affected by
this game that she merely was playing because she just enjoyed it, not knowing
what it was teaching her along the way.
My daughter
was blessed with some amazing coaches and some remarkable fellow players
throughout her years playing ball. Because of this sport she learned the
significance of teamwork and working together for a positive end result; that
taught her that she has a responsibility to contribute to her class groups, her
lab partners or the shift she works with and that as long as there is equal
input from everyone, then you can accomplish anything. It goes beyond the basic
concept of “teamwork” though. This sport taught her so much more than that.
Kai was
always harder on herself more so than even the coaches; especially when it came
to batting. Sometimes she might hit a double or even a triple and a lot of
times she was walked or even worse struck out. Each time though that she didn’t
get the hit that she hoped for it just made her want it more when she stepped
back up to the plate. Yes, if she didn’t get it then it was disappointing; but
if she did make contact with her bat and the ball – it just made it feel even
better. Batting taught her focus and it taught her the will to strive harder
with each chance that she had at the plate. What that taught her has helped her
with the challenges of tests and finals in college. With each of her tests that
she takes obviously comes the risk of failing – which no matter how hard she
has studied – she still has had that happen; but with each failure she has come
up swinging and determined to do better on the next one. Just like batting, if
you focus on what comes at you then you can meet it head on.
She always
played the outfield and at first she was hesitant about believing that she
could catch balls that were out of her reach. With each practice though she
strived to be braver and eventually had no problem with diving for a ball…even
if it meant a concussion or a trip to the ER later. Finding that courage to
push herself has now resulted in her not being afraid to try new things, harder
classes or challenges in her jobs. She realized through having the courage to
go for it on a pop fly that it was worth it in the satisfaction of catching it
and being a hero for a moment; it’s the same with believing in herself enough
to take a chance and reach higher and farther for her goals in life. I wish I had a nickel for every hour that we spent at the ball field; for every night that we left late and every next morning that we had to get up before sunrise. She never complained…not once. It was a sacrifice that she didn’t care to make because to her it was all worth it. Those sacrifices showed her that is what life is about – if you want what makes you happy, well you have to sacrifice to achieve that.
The practices that involved sweat, sore muscles and a lot of her time, the tournaments that consisted of hours & hours in the dugouts and on the field in 100° temperatures, playing back to back games with no time to eat and being exhausted – all those things were merely the foundation of her building the characteristics of perseverance and determination that would later produce the work ethics that she has formed.
She finally came to realize through her two coaches that pushed her that it wasn’t necessarily about who believed in her, but yet her learning to believe in herself. That gave her more courage than anything to not let failure become the bigger option. It taught her that as long as you give it all you have, then that is what matters. Those things have given her the confidence in pursuing what it is that she wants to do; regardless of whether or not anyone else thinks that she can do it.
Softball taught her that just as in life, you get out of it what you put into it. If you give what you are doing your dedication and commitment; if you work with others for the ultimate outcome; if you have faith in yourself as much as those who teach you, then you can conquer whatever it is that you set your mind to.
I always knew that I wouldn’t trade the memories of those long days at the ball field for anything, but I am just now realizing how important the sport that she loved for the simple joy of playing it, was also one of the things that shaped her most as a person. To some it’s just a bat, a ball, a glove and coming together for the purpose of winning, but to me it’s much more than that – it’s creating a person who doesn’t let striking out from time to time define you; it’s about working with others for the greater cause; it’s manifesting the character that will take you as far in life as you want to go and helping to build the courage to dust the dirt off and get back up. It’s not just a game…it’s a life lesson.
