Small Steps- Big Footprint Written by Alexis Kantor 2014 Positive attitude? Really? It’s been one of those days. I clap off my cleats and grab myself another Gatorade before heading to the car for the long drive home with dad. The sweat dries up along with my pent up frustration from our last loss. Dad’s here to talk about it, but the bottom line in any advice he offers is “hard work pays off.” And I reply with, “Well dad, hard work ain’t workin’”. But instead of an awkward silence following my remark, it is one of understanding and reassurance. As much as he would have liked to see me get the game-winning hit, he’s not upset with my performance. There is always something to gain out of everyday on the field. A skill was sharpened, a new mental approach was found, or the team grew stronger in some way. Whatever the case, you have the power to take away something positive, and that message translates to the larger picture in life. In the case of defeat, it’s not always easy to remain positive. In fact, the easy thing to do is blame other people, doubt your ability, or hesitate on your next given opportunity. But through a great deal of trial and error, sports have taught me just the opposite- if your dream is to succeed, stay strong through the struggle. In life, there will always be obstacles to overcome. But that’s exactly why we get up everyday, because a new challenge awaits. I like to call softball “one big metaphor” to all of my goals in life, because while softball may be just a game, I can apply so much knowledge from it to other areas of my life. Through the game I have learned about commitment, setting goals, and having structure. I know I won’t be playing forever, so I work hard at it while I can. I thank softball for being the best decision I ever made to dedicate myself to, because now I have the foundation to conquer any mountain I choose. It’s no secret that everybody goes through highs and lows. This is just the same in sports, where the time periods of disappointment, bad luck, and confusion come out. I think to myself, “How could this game that I have put so much heart into, so many long hours practicing, betray me?” This is usually what happens after a tough tournament. It’s also normal to think “If I work for it, than I deserve every bit of it, right?” However, sometimes result doesn’t come out so nicely. When adversity strikes, we have to pick ourselves up by the bootstraps, remember why we’ve chosen to play this game for so long, and then seize even the smallest opportunity. You do it because you love it. In sports, we are invigorated by our highs and lows, not when we become complacent. Sports have taught me how to keep confidence and composure, even if you are not getting what you feel you deserve. Maybe a coach doesn’t believe in you like you wish they could, or you practiced for an extra hour on your own but it didn’t show in the game, or perhaps your nerves got the best of you. These little frustrations are what make a strong mindset so important. If you can overcome that obstacle just once, the personal rewards are tremendous. Be proud of yourself and your abilities, and show what you’re made of. If the ride had always been easy, I would have never learned the powers of a positive attitude and strong work ethic.
Posted on: Wed, 17 Jul 2013 11:55:42 +0000
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