I was watching a YouTube video (do yourself a favor and type Foo Fighters Kiss Guy into YouTube *some bad language for those faint of heart). A guy gets pulled out of the audience and gets to play guitar with the band. Suffice it to say, he does not disappoint. It got me thinking. How do you perform when your number is called? Do you rise to the occasion or crumble under the pressure?
Personally, I’ve done both.
I remember playing baseball and pitching on short notice with the
knowledge that if we won, we would go to the state tournament. I would pitch very well, and if my memories haven’t
been corrupted by time, had a couple of important hits as well. I also remember playing in a softball
tournament years later that had I got a clutch hit with two outs in the bottom
of the last inning, we would have taken home the trophy. The lazy fly ball I hit insured the trophy
would go to the bad guys.
I suppose, in life, we all have these moments.
This weekend, any or all of my daughters may see such a
moment. The girls, and their spring
soccer teams have combined for a record of 19-0-2 going into the last weekend
of the season. You would think, by the
grace of God, that at least one of them would have already secured their league
championship. No such luck. All three girls need to win their remaining
game(s) to insure they win their respective divisions. This is not really something we have needed concern
ourselves with in the past. Why is it we
have to have these pressures for all three kids? Maybe karma? Maybe lingering 2020 vibes? Who knows.
Whatever the reason, this weekend could be a nail biter. There could be high fives to give and cheeks
to dry.
I’m sure some would question my parenting when I say “I hope
its all celebrations or all tear wiping”.
I dread two league championships and one second place finish, regardless
of which kid finishes second. I’ll brace
for the hate mail.
Full disclosure, I don’t put a ton of stock in winning and
losing. I am definitely a “how you play
the game” fella. I think you push hard
and let the chips fall where they may. Leave it all on the field and you’ll sleep
well regardless of the outcome.
I truly believe that.
I am also in the minority.
All of the involved parties really want their respective first
place finishes. It looks like they will
have to run the table for all of them to be happy. Fingers crossed.
The lesson here, little girls? Pretty straight forward. There is some chance your number will get called
this weekend. That there may be a moment
that you’ll remember for years to come that you either look back on fondly like
my pitching to go to state or that you will bemoan like my failures on the
softball field. There is a certainty
that your teams will need each of you to do your best to succeed.
You’ve all put in the work.
You’ve all practiced, listened and learned. There is a philosophy to “let the training
take over”. I suppose that’s fine, but I subscribe to a different train of thought.
I believe you should live in the moment.
Enjoy it. If you win, enjoy your
trophy. If you lose, lick your wounds
and take your lesson. Embrace the
competition and let it move your cleats.
Regardless of how you approach the game, remember one thing,
for your daddy’s sake, you all need to win or you all need to lose. Thanks in advance.
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