Life presents many opportunities. There are some we do not care for, some we try to avoid and then there are others we cannot avoid and MUST address them head on. What do you do in the stressful crunch of life? Do you fold? Do you run? Do sweep your stress, trauma, conflict under the rug? When we are faced with a situation where the epinephrine is free flowing through our body, our heart is racing, perspiration is beading up on our skin like a shower wall mirror, what do we do? There are many responses, and there are times we MUST react. In the 2011 World Series there are life lessons which can be learned. Twice, the St. Louis Cardinals were with one strike away from elimination. They persevered. The old adage, “It is not over till it’s over” never rang so true. I have witnessed this ( NEVER GIVE UP ) attitude in various forms in life. From cancer patients, athletes, psychotherapy patients, veterans of war, and severe life trauma. Some of us have an innate ability to strive and push through all situations and end up surprising ourselves. There is a belief, an attitudinal adjustment that these individuals have which is not so inherent in others. I am of the belief that this “never give up” attitude can be taught, can be instilled. When the attitude is there, the belief is formulated then amazing outcomes occur. The wildlife photographer who obtains great shots has spent thousands of hours in the field, and many many disappointments before that one magical picture comes together. One thing is for sure, one must believe, and get out there to achieve the results.
Negative thinking, negative thoughts WILL give rise to increased chances of failure. This my dear reader is a FACT. I personally believe that most individuals that have the drive to be happy, the drive to push themselves to the limit, and those that are faced with two strikes and two outs in the bottom of the ninth have had some type of severe adversity in their lives. In listening to the interview with David Freese after the Cardinals won the World Series he gave up baseball for a short time. Was done. Maybe frustration, maybe a life trauma, and it does not matter what the adversity was. What does matter, is that something occurred. I have zero studies to back this up, no chi squares, no p-values and no control groups. I do have life experience and thousands of patients I have treated. Some have made it to the professional ranks, and some are successful defined by being happy as well as having very lucrative careers. All of them do not rattle with one second left as they stand on the free throw line of life. Ice for veins? Maybe? I would rather call it learned confidence. Not arrogance but learned confidence from dealing with severe adversity.
These individuals do not whine and complain. When injured they do not run for attention. They proceed and want to be there when the crisis occurs, when the two outs arrive for they feel they can help the team as well as others. For the most part their is a paradoxical humility. Paradoxical in the sense that they do not strive for the interview, or the television time, however when faced with it, there is genuine humility. Those with unresolved issues who have also suffered life crisis will not want the bat in their hands in the ninth, they will avoid and these are the individuals that hesitate in life not sure of venturing traits like risk, failure, winning, and self introspection. Literally their own fear is their fear. Let me repeat. Their own fear is their fear. It is a perpetuating fear that arises similar to a summer thunderstorm, coming from the West. As quick as it arises it will pass. These individuals cannot handle the rain and thunder and must duck inside for shelter as opposed to enjoying the power of natures fury and not being afraid.
Sex abuse, loss, trauma, and sudden death has the potential to make humans stronger. They have the potential to learn and succeed in the time of need. Yes, I do believe there is a genetic component as well, but it is NOT the majority that rises one from the ashes of life. It is the focus, the desire coming from adversity. As children many of us have fantasized with a whiffle ball and bat. Two strikes, two outs, bottom of the ninth, and Dan Williams is coming up to bat. “There it goes, he got all of that one, it could be, it might be it IS! A home run, the Cardinals win, the cardinals win.”
The Cardinals not only saw the silver lining the opportunity available they became the silver lining. Seeing opportunity and taking advantage of it for yourself as well as others is walk in life where many benefit. It can be a win-win situation. Look back. What happened in your life to mold you into the person who wants the bat at the bottom of the ninth with two outs and two strikes? Do you know? If so, be thankful and point it out to others. Our path occurs for a reason and all the brambles and trips and falls that came with it just to reach the apex.
