I have played or coached fastpitch softball and baseball for the majority of my life. I love everything about it. I adore the sights, the sounds and smells; everything. I’ve been excited at times and I’ve even been bored at times. I’ve laughed hysterically and I have cried uncontrollably. I have felt invincible and I have felt useless. The emotions that surround this game are endless and ever-changing. From pitch to pitch things evolve and that’s why this game is amazing. It’s extremely important to keep our emotions in check during this evolution, channeling both positive and negative energy toward focusing on what’s in front of us not what’s behind us. Softball is so much like life in this way and it teaches us important life lessons. I want to share one with you that I learned.

Many life lessons are learned through the game of softball but to me the biggest lesson is that of opportunity. Pitches in a softball game are like days or moments in life. Every pitch is an opportunity in softball and every day or moment is an opportunity in life. So with that said, what we do with pitches and opportunities could determine the outcome for an at bat, an inning, or a game and similar words can be said of life and how we handle daily opportunities.

Know that if an opportunity presents itself we need to be ready whether it be softball or life. Take advantage of opportunities when they arise and don’t look back. I love how this is true in life as much as it is true in softball. It’s always the next pitch or next day. Whether I catch or hit a ball or not I constantly remind myself with a voice in my head saying, “NEVER MISS.”

NEVER MISS^TM: It’s a mindset

‘Never Miss’ is not about whether or not you catch a ball. It’s not about striking out or even making a bad throw. Mistakes are going to happen. That’s how we learn. Lord knows I’ve made my share. ‘Never Miss’ is confidence. It’s a state of mind that you become conscious of. It is a voice in your head that tells you to focus, it tells you to ‘Never Miss’. Be ready for your next opportunity. The better prepared you are, the more focused you are when the opportunity comes, the better chance you have to succeed. ‘Never Miss’ a ground ball. ‘Never Miss’ a throw. ‘Never Miss’ a pitch. Never miss an opportunity.Believe in yourself and focus on life one pitch (or day) at a time. Besides… Life’s a pitch! 😉

“Every day is a new opportunity. You can build on yesterday’s success or put it’s failures behind and start over again. That’s the way life is, with a new game every day, and that’s the way baseball is.”

— Bob Feller