Last Spring I helped out at my grandson’s baseball team practice.  Basically, it was a batting practice and I was a designated pitcher for the duration.  The kids were all about 8 years old or so.  Some could hit nearly every pitch and some hit with authority.  Some could hit most of the pitches.  A few struggled to make any contact.  Some had a batting stance and a swing like a future baseball player.  Some…well, did not.

What I observed was that each young player was proud of what they did at the level they were at.  A few were disappointed if they hit a weak pop-up, but beamed when they struck the ball solidly with that familiar “ping.”  Most were excited when stringing together good contact over several pitches in a row.  A few felt accomplished when the bat hit any part of the ball.  A few times I was focusing on where the child swung and I tried to throw the ball to their swing.

Isn’t this scenario about all of us in this life?  Depending on what we are doing, some are trying to consistently drive the ball back up the middle with authority.  Others are just trying to make any kind of contact at all.

It takes time.  It takes patience.  Very few are accomplished at something on the first try.  Not even the second, third, fourth, etc.  Malcolm Gladwell discussed the theory of 10,000 hours to master something.  That’s a lot of swings.

I applauded each batter for what was accomplished.  I wanted each of them to leave the practice feeling some kind of success.  I gave a few pointers here and there that hopefully can help.  Don’t we all need that coach and cheerleader in our life?  Don’t we all need someone who will throw the ball in the path of our bat once in a while?  I think that’s true and each of us can do it for someone we care about.

So, get out there today.  Throw some productive batting practice to someone.