One Day This Won’t Be Your Life Anymore (MUST READ!!!)
What a crazy ending for lots of young athletes... With many schools closed and lots of spring and summer leagues canceled, many kids and their families have had to make big adjustments.
Michelle and I remember those days like yesterday, coaching and chasing the kids from one sport to another. Wow, it seemed crazy at the time but what we wouldn't give to be sitting out at the local little league ballpark this weekend.
Having been lucky enough to play college sports myself and having worked with many professional athletes, we are all forced to recognize that one day it all must end. One thing I always told the kids, in hopes of keeping things in perspective and not putting too much pressure on them, "regardless of how good you are or how hard you compete at a particular sport, eventually it is all going to come to an end." Meaning competitive sports always ends! It's simply a matter of when not if? It might end for some kids in junior high, for others in high school or college, or for the select few who play professionally it will end in their 20s, 30s or 40s. Bottom-line...it ends!
I know for many the season being canceled can feel devastating, especially for those who will never play competitively again. It has to be extremely difficult to digest, especially if you never saw it coming. The post below was published on the emkayedwards blog and penned by a young softball player who was ending her high school career. It's certainly sad to see it all end but some amazing life lessons are learned along the journey that make it all worth it. Remind your young ones to always go out and play each game like it could be their last... I included a couple of pics of my two growing-up during football season. Great times!
One Day This Won’t Be Your Life Anymore
I spent nine years chasing the game I loved. I played every weekend, holiday and summer until I was 18 years old. I collected memories and trophies and battle scars. And then, in one of the most difficult decisions I’ve ever made, I walked away. I felt sure that it was best for me and most days, I believe I was right. I was watching my dad’s team play this weekend (he coaches high school softball) and a parent asked me “What would you tell these girls if you knew they’d listen?” And this is what I would say:
One day you will walk off the field for the last time. One day you will untie your cleats forever. One day you will put your glove in your bag and there it will stay for months at a time. One day your tan lines will fade. You’ll forget the feeling of seams beneath your fingers. You’ll struggle to remember the way it felt to hit the perfect pitch. You’ll see your teammates once or twice a year instead of every single day. You won’t slide into second. You won’t round first. One day you’ll be on the other side the fence.
One day this won’t be your life anymore. And when it’s not, you won’t remember the things that you’d think. You’ll have no idea how many times you struck out. You won’t know how many errors you made. You won’t be impressed with how many home runs you hit. You won’t care about your batting average or ERA. For the most part, you won’t remember wins and losses at all.
After your last inning has come and gone, you’re going to remember the times when you wanted to quit— but didn’t. You’re going to remember the teammates (and families) you loved along the way. You’re going to remember playing in the freezing cold, driving rain, and unbearable heat. You’re going to remember the hotel bonding and the eight hour road trips. You’re going to remember the early practices and late games. You’re going to remember the coaches that never gave up on you. But most of all, you’re going to remember the sheer happiness that came only from being between two chalk lines. You’re going to remember the moments you did more than you ever believed you could. You’re going to remember the times you used every bit of talent God gave you.
One day this won’t be your life anymore. So for today, run as fast as your feet will take you. Whether it’s a pop up to the pitcher or it bounces off the fence in left field. For today, swing as hard as you can. Commit to every pitch and give it everything you have. For today, make every play like it’s the last chance you’ll ever get. For today, play because you want to. Play because you need to. Play because the little girl you used to be fell in love with this game all those years ago.
For today, don’t stop until the last pitch is thrown. Play with every piece of your heart and leave it all on the field. One day, this won’t be your life anymore. When that day comes, make sure you wouldn’t change a thing.
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