I recently sent out a message to AAF Members and talked about having an “Attitude of Gratitude.” If you aren’t a member or didn’t get to read that message, you can read it HERE.

I recently came across a youth sports article that mentioned some of the tough lessons kids may have to learn through life.  It was kind of cool because I think my kids are experiencing just about every one and I think I went through almost all of them too.

While that part of the article was interesting, it wasn’t the part that got me all revved up to write this blog post.

You see the article starts off by talking about a mother who complained that, “If not everyone can win a medal, you should not give them out.”

This woman needs a lesson in the “Attitude of Gratitude.”  What is she teaching her child by getting so bent out of shape because her child didn’t get to come in first?  Yes, I understand the desire to succeed and win.  I like to win too.  But when people, like this mother, get to the point where all they do is grumble, complain, and moan about circumstances, they’re missing the point!

I don’t know if you watch Grey’s Anatomy, but there was a recent episode where “the interns” were given a little project to diagnose an anonymous patient known as “Patient X.”  Turns out this patient’s prognosis is not very good.  The interns said this patient had a 5% chance of survival and was pretty much “toast.”  After they had figured out the correct diagnosis on the case and given the answer to the doctor putting them through the exercise (the files on “Patient X” were actually hers), they asked what their prize was.  The last time the interns had a project/competition there was a prize.

The doctor who was leading them in that exercise was quite upset and said a bunch of things, but basically her point was that they got to be doctors that day.  They did what doctors are supposed to do, they didn’t mess up, and they got to be doctors that day.  That was their prize.  Having the ability and the opportunity to do something they love to do.

Not everyone has the ability or the opportunity to be involved with sports or with softball.  Some have neither.  There are players out there that may have the ability to play this game, not the opportunity.  Maybe

• their parents don’t have the money to sign them up for the local league
• their parents don’t have time to take them to practices and games because they are so busy working to put food on the table and pay the bills
• their isn’t a team close by and the players has no reliable transportation to get to practices or games
• the player has to work instead of play softball
• the players has to help watch younger brothers and sisters while their parents work a second job
• etc, etc, etc there are so many situations that prevent players from having the opportunity to play the game

Then you have the ones who have the opportunity to play (they don’t have the types of problems above), but don’t have the ability.

• They get cut from the team
• They had a career ending injury
• They have some kind of illness that keeps them from being able to participate
• They have some other kind of disability that makes playing softball all but impossible

If you have the ability AND the opportunity to be involved with this sport THAT is your prize, the rest is gravy.  Being able to participate in this game at any capacity is a priviledge, an honor, and a blessing. Forgetting that and crying or being salty and sour because you didn’t get to come in first is a prime example of focusing on what you don’t have instead of being thankful for what you DO have.  Employ an Attitude of Gratitude – be thankful every day for what you DO have and you’ll not only achieve more, but you’ll also be happier and enjoy life so much more.