Game On!
Posted by Shelli Altopp Miller at 6/10/2008 5:43 AM 
Categories: Parenting, Shelli Altopp Miller, Recreation
Categories: Parenting, Shelli Altopp Miller, Recreation
My son reluctantly signed up for spring baseball this year after a two-year hiatus from the sport. His last experience, playing coach pitch, was, well, boring. There was way too much standing around waiting for a batter to get a hit; too much time sitting in the dugout waiting his turn to bat. He had firmly declared himself a soccer player. My husband and I felt he was too young to limit himself to one sport, however, so with a little encouragement from us and a lot of promotion from grandpa, the career baseball coach, he came out of semi-retirement. Imagine my dismay when I picked my son up from the pre-season baseball skills assessment to be told by a coach what a great pitcher my son was!
"He's never pitched before," I said, bewildered.
"He stepped forward when we asked who was a pitcher. We worked him out and he looks good."
Smiling inwardly, I realized that is how my son saw himself: Elevated on the mound, in control of the game. Flowing from that confident, determined self-concept came reality.
Confidence and determination: That is all anybody needs to achieve. Confidence means assurance, trust, belief, faith. It is knowing something will turn out how you envision. Confidence requires positive thinking. It is believing you are able to accomplish whatever you set out to do. Determination takes focus, keeping your eyes on the prize. Determination requires hard work but, coupled with confidence, knows it will be worth it.
Think of a goal you have - Learn to scuba dive? Bake yeast rolls? Publish a book? Get a degree? Train for a 5K? Learn to knit? Lose weight? Refinish a piece of furniture? - Fill in the blank. What is stopping you from attaining it? His first time on the mound, my son pitched five innings and struck out eight batters. By all accounts, he was successful. To achieve, you must move forward with confidence and determination. Take head knowledge and give it legs - and a mean pitching arm!
"He's never pitched before," I said, bewildered.
"He stepped forward when we asked who was a pitcher. We worked him out and he looks good."
Smiling inwardly, I realized that is how my son saw himself: Elevated on the mound, in control of the game. Flowing from that confident, determined self-concept came reality.
Confidence and determination: That is all anybody needs to achieve. Confidence means assurance, trust, belief, faith. It is knowing something will turn out how you envision. Confidence requires positive thinking. It is believing you are able to accomplish whatever you set out to do. Determination takes focus, keeping your eyes on the prize. Determination requires hard work but, coupled with confidence, knows it will be worth it.
Think of a goal you have - Learn to scuba dive? Bake yeast rolls? Publish a book? Get a degree? Train for a 5K? Learn to knit? Lose weight? Refinish a piece of furniture? - Fill in the blank. What is stopping you from attaining it? His first time on the mound, my son pitched five innings and struck out eight batters. By all accounts, he was successful. To achieve, you must move forward with confidence and determination. Take head knowledge and give it legs - and a mean pitching arm!
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