Practice Swings

As I watched my husband patiently coach our 7 year-old I knew I needed a greater appreciation for the practice swing. Our daughter was getting really frustrated with striking out so he encouraged her to stop and take a few practice swings.

This break in the game provided her with a diversion from her frustration and a chance to regain her form. After a few deliberate and carefully coached swings, she was making contact and swinging for the fences again.

If you feel like every swing you attempt is a miss, take a step back, check your form, breathe, get in a few practice swings, and you are certain to find your groove again.

If your intent isn’t clear because of frustration, your energy is misguided. Calm yourself. Play out what you need to do to be successful in your mind. Practice swing your way into a winning stance and you will love the results.

RJ – one of our favorite superstars

By: Melanie A. Peters

Special thanks to my buddy RJ for his practice swings. My daughter was too frustrated to be photographed at the time of practice. 🙂

Curve Balls

Curve ball grip

I don’t know much about the physics of baseball but I do know curve balls are one of the nastiest tricks in any thrower’s repertoire. The trouble with a curve ball is that a batter has to gauge where a ball is going to move. It’s the ultimate moving target.

Consider a time when you were thrown a curve ball. Was it a heartbreak? An illness? A failed business or class? How did you recover? Are you still trying to regain your composure? Do you feel completely struck out?

Step out of the batter’s box for a second. If you have moved on, good for you! Keep swinging for the fences. If you are still reeling from the curve, give yourself time to regroup physically and emotionally. That’s what timeouts are for. Just remember you can’t take too long; you are still in the game.

If you are hanging your head in the walk of shame back to the dugout, pick that head up. This might not have been your best at-bat, but it certainly isn’t your last attempt.

Change your stance. Train your eye (and your heart) to know where to aim. Challenge yourself to attack that curve next time with confidence and experience. That experience is what gives you the energy and understanding to adjust your swing and maybe drive home your next intent.

By: Melanie A. Peters

Shortstops

PITTSBURGH – APRIL 9: St. Louis Cardinals vs. Pittsburgh Pirates during the Home Opener for the Pittsburgh Pirates on April 9, 2007 at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo By Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

The job of the shortstop is to make it easier for the defense to complete accurate throws when stopping a runner or making an out. We all could use a shortstop sometime. Someone to help us focus or redirect our efforts. A teammate to assist us when our target is moving too fast or is too far away.

Think about someone in your life who you can always count on in a pinch. Somebody who has given you a needed assist when completing a job or getting to a desired destination. Maybe there is a person in your life who boosts your morale or motivates you to be your best. Contact that person today and thank them for being your shortstop. Explain why and how they are your shortstop (of course) and share your positive appreciation for their intentions in your life.

By: Melanie A Peters

Images were obtained from Google Images. Ozzie Smith is my all time favorite Cardinal and a Hall of Fame Shortstop. David Eckstein was one of my favorite Cardinals and was World Series MVP for the Cardinals. Jhonny Peralta is my son’s favorite Cardinal and he happens to be a terrific shortstop.

Homeruns

My 5-year-old LOVES baseball (particularly St. Louis Cardinals baseball). He is so devoted that we DVR all Cardinals’ games so he can see each and every play. (Heaven help us if weather intefers with satellite reception.)

For the longest time whenever any runs scored, my son thought it was a homerun. He would hoop and holler and say, “Go crazy, folks, go crazy!” At first we didn’t have the heart to tell him not all runs are out-of-the park, rip-the-cover-off, grand slams, Continue reading “Homeruns” →

Spring chickens – being young isn’t easy

I enjoy clichés as much as the next guy and the notion of being a “spring chicken” is no exception. Hearing someone say they are not a spring chicken anymore is funny to me because there are A LOT of downfalls to being one of those fluffy, little chirpers.

First of all, you are at the mercy of that big, bright light to keep you warm. You just never know when it’s gonna come back on or shut off. (You have no concept of thermostats.) Secondly, you are always spilling your little bowl of food or water. YUCK! Who wants to eat, drink, or step in that? Thirdly, there are always other chicks stepping on you or chirping in your ear because they are just as confused as you are.

In the event you are a daycare or elementary school spring chicken, your problems are 30 times worse because there are all these crazy faces looking at you and sticky, giant hands patting you and picking you up.

Today celebrate your experience and maturity. Enjoy having direction and priorities. Being grown up has its benefits. Be glad that you know what that big, bright thing is in the sky and let its rays warm you. Take care of yourself. Eat and drink what you know is good for you. Relish the fact that you aren’t chirping away with confusion. You have a wonderful mind that can guide you through tough or uncertain times. Celebrate that knowledge.

Chirp if you need, but know that you are a problem solver with tremendous ability. Turn your intent into gratitude for all that you know and have experienced. This will help your energy mature into something positively amazing.

By: Melanie A. Peters