It’s nearly ten o’clock at night and I can still see several blocks down my suburban street. My son and I just returned from my niece’s softball game out of town. I felt something familiar while I watched her. The feeling was familiar and recent. Caden went to CC’s softball tournament three weeks ago. CC is my best friend’s daughter. She is amazing, humble, beautiful, intelligent, thoughtful and compassionate. She’s everything I hope for our future. When I talk with my kids, or with my nieces and nephews, with the many young people I am grateful to know, I feel hopeful.
I played softball as a teenager. FOR. ONE. SEASON. . . . on a mediocre team. I was a swimmer, not a softball player. Swimming is a “team” sport in that you are a member of a TEAM but, let’s be honest, it’s a fairly independent endeavor. After playing a couple of seasons on my high school’s JV soccer team, I finally understood what the attraction was to TRUE team sports.
I remember when it occurred to me that “adults don’t play team sports. . . . they certainly don’t play softball. . . now’s my chance, if I want to have the ‘experience’, NOW is the time . .. the ONLY time.” I don’t remember much about my ONE season of softball. I DO remember feeling VERY vulnerable. There is something about stepping up to bat that challenges EVERY part of your self-confidence. Vulnerability was on display tonight! I noticed several girls with tears in their eyes. I was heart-breaking. And, I ALSO heard a LOT of cheering.
There is SOMETHING about listening to young women cheer for one another. CC’s team went so far as to play a “pump up” song for each player as they stepped up to bat. Life has been bumpy recently (personally, politically, emotionally), but – let’s be HONEST – shall we?! Life has been rough for so many of us and not just the last couple of years . . . . BUT watching young women cheer for their friends and teammates, this is SOUL FOOD. As I sat, stretching and people watching, intermittently chatting with my in-laws, cheering for my sweet niece, I considered recording the ambient sounds of the game. Could it be an antidote to stress? Depression? Anxiety? Hearing people cheer for one another is inspiring. FULL STOP.
One of my early swim coaches, Mike Tumey, awarded me the inaugural “Clay Scocroff (sp?) Spirit Award”. I was too young to be properly honored but it is, and remains – though I couldn’t put my finger on it at the moment, hence the guess at the spelling of Clay’s name;-( – one of my most proud moments. AND also quite confusing.
After receiving the award, I thought a lot about WHY I cheered for my teammates. My reasoning was selfish! I’d put together, EARLY ON, that if I cheered for my teammates, I was present, in the moment, endorphins were high and I had very little time to psych myself out about whatever race I was swimming next.
Until I was given the award, it really hadn’t occurred to me that my cheering was benefiting anyone else. We are always better players (team or otherwise) when we are positive, supportive and engaged.
*carpe diem*
Collecting Pieces of Me 