Living is about how you get back up when life knocks you down. Living is how you react to what you do not control. Living is adjusting perspective to one of learning and appreciation from one of life being unfair and being beaten down. No matter how the message is written or delivered, life is like a knuckleball. Living is what makes it exciting.
I do not speak only of the ‘negatives’ that are in our face from time to time. For even the most ‘positives’ are still a ‘change’ in our life, and how we react can greatly influence the impact of the change. I have written about this many times and I can recall how this was a key message of mine whether as a leader, teacher or coach.
Think of one ‘positive’ and to what that meant in terms of other changes that one ‘positive’ contributed to in your life. I fully expect there was a ripple effect. The same is true when one is the change in another person’s life for beyond the initial impact, there are often implications that that other person’s life. And of course, if one thinks of a ‘negative’, there are clear implications for that person and maybe others.
In the end, it is not the knuckleball that is pitched at you that defines you or your life. It is how you react to the unknown and the unpredictable nature of a knuckleball that will be the basis for living and one’s life.
Why this message now? For a couple of reasons.
First, I need to remind myself of the importance of having confidence in myself and who I am in the face of a new life challenge presented to me this past week, and just as importantly, to have confidence in others. Those others will have an impact on my ability to respond to this new challenge.
Second, each of us is constantly facing changes, sometimes being very significant. And like it or not, we sometimes have to face up to what those changes may mean, and to how we live our life. And words of support or words that perhaps contribute to a different perspective in facing that challenge can be important.
Life is a knuckleball. Living is preparing for and adapting to different pitches and the unexpected. We have the strength, especially in combination with others to deal with the challenges. Perspective can be everything. Reach down deep and reach out for assistance. But know, you’ve got it!
Knuckleball
Have you ever set yourself up
Ready to hit that ball coming over the plate
Thinking it’s going to be down the middle
And with a swing, it’ll go long and straight
You’ve been practicing and hitting the ball well
Your swing is smooth and without a hitch
With all the hard work and how you feel
You are confident you can hit any pitch
You get the bat ready as you tense your arms
And you see the ball leave the pitcher’s hand
Then the ball flutters; dancing before your eyes
This is nothing like you’ve ever planned
You’ve hit curveballs for they’re common
And hit change-ups as you adjust your swing
But this is unknown as its’ flight is strange
It’s like the pitcher’s pulling the ball on a string
This must be the knuckleball of which you’ve heard
Erratic in flight; its’ destination unknown
Patience is key as you relax just a little
You see the ball flatten; it’s in your zone
If you miss, it’s simply a strike
And in that second, you’re on your game
You’re ready to go and the bat starts to move
A swing with confidence; it’s all the same
A knuckle is like life with its’ ups and downs
A ball that when thrown goes against the flow
To hit that ball, one prepares and gets ready
You may hit or miss; but no matter, you’ll grow
To hit a knuckle, you’ve got to let go
To prepare for what’s beyond what you control
To respond in life to what you did not expect
Be who you are and know what’s in your soul