Batter Up! Lighten up. . .
Today I am grateful for sunshine and shade, and for appreciation of a game as a game.
We have spent a good portion of the last two weekends at baseball tournaments for our son Sam. Last weekend they thrilled us with close games and extra innings. This weekend the games usually weren't as close and we were usually on the winning side. The team took second place this weekend after taking third place in last weekend's tournament. They have won more games than they have lost.
But for me the key questions are always: 1) Are you having fun? 2) Are you learning and improving? 3) Is your team positive and supportive? Wins and losses are not as important as these things. (Though I have seen many teams who have fun, keep improving, and positively support one another win a lot of ball games over the years. Like gratitude leads to happiness, teamwork and fun leads to wins, not vice versa.)
Sam says he is enjoying the season and his team. I appreciate that he really seems to take the games' ups and downs and his own individual player's ups and downs in stride well. We cheer him and his teammates on, compliment them on jobs well done, and leave the coaching to the coaches. For all the games we watch, I would rather enjoy them than get all caught up in how my own child or the team is doing, what the coaches may or may not be saying and in what tone, and what good calls the umpires may or may not be making.
Sometimes I witness players, coaches, parents, other fans, and umpires taking themselves and this game too seriously. It happens in any sport. Too competitive. Too perfectionistic. Too much trying to live vicariously. Too much emphasis on winning and "second place is first loser" mentality.
Lighten up. Please. It's a game. They are kids. Keep the energy positive or stay home.
And that reminds me to lighten up in all areas of my life. Don't take yourself too seriously today Lisa. Do one thing at a time, stay present in the moment. Today is here. Batter up! Lighten up.
We have spent a good portion of the last two weekends at baseball tournaments for our son Sam. Last weekend they thrilled us with close games and extra innings. This weekend the games usually weren't as close and we were usually on the winning side. The team took second place this weekend after taking third place in last weekend's tournament. They have won more games than they have lost.
But for me the key questions are always: 1) Are you having fun? 2) Are you learning and improving? 3) Is your team positive and supportive? Wins and losses are not as important as these things. (Though I have seen many teams who have fun, keep improving, and positively support one another win a lot of ball games over the years. Like gratitude leads to happiness, teamwork and fun leads to wins, not vice versa.)
Sam says he is enjoying the season and his team. I appreciate that he really seems to take the games' ups and downs and his own individual player's ups and downs in stride well. We cheer him and his teammates on, compliment them on jobs well done, and leave the coaching to the coaches. For all the games we watch, I would rather enjoy them than get all caught up in how my own child or the team is doing, what the coaches may or may not be saying and in what tone, and what good calls the umpires may or may not be making.
Sometimes I witness players, coaches, parents, other fans, and umpires taking themselves and this game too seriously. It happens in any sport. Too competitive. Too perfectionistic. Too much trying to live vicariously. Too much emphasis on winning and "second place is first loser" mentality.
Lighten up. Please. It's a game. They are kids. Keep the energy positive or stay home.
And that reminds me to lighten up in all areas of my life. Don't take yourself too seriously today Lisa. Do one thing at a time, stay present in the moment. Today is here. Batter up! Lighten up.
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