PACE YOURSELF
What a weekend of college softball! The TaxAct Clearwater Invitational did not disappoint. There were so many amazing moments: walk offs, freshmen coming through in the clutch, SportsCenter worthy plays, the list goes on and on. I was so happy and content watching some of the best college players play at such a high level. As always, my recaps (as well as some swing breakdowns) are going to be rolling through my TikTok page this week. I hope you enjoyed watching too, and don't forget the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic is THIS weekend! You can stream all games on FLO Softball. Keep watching and keep learning from the best.
Speaking from experience, I know what it is like to be young and ambitious watching a tournament like Clearwater or Mary Nutter. As a young athlete, you want the bright lights and the big moment. And, as society now tells us in almost everything else, when you want something you can experience the instant gratification of getting it. Our game isn't like that. It never will be.
Think about it. I'm hungry - I go to the kitchen now and get a snack. I'm thirsty - I go pour myself a glass of water. I'm bored - I get an immediate dopamine hit from social media. Instant gratification is ever present in our every day lives, and we wonder why we feel frustrated or impatient when we are in a slump or experiencing a rough practice. It's only natural to think, "I want to be the best softball player in the world" - and expect to get there and to achieve it.
Trust me, you cannot expect to be the best softball player in the world at age 12, 14, 18, or even in college or the pros. You can be your best self by pacing yourself. You are competing against you. If you want to be the best softball player in the world, it starts today, by doing a little bit more. And then the next day, and the day after that. The secret to getting to the big stage and the bright lights is nothing more than consistency. Day after day, practice after practice, lesson after lesson, year after year. There has NEVER been an overnight success, not only in softball, but in life. You may know a name after a big showing in a tournament like Clearwater or Mary Nutter, but that player didn't just show up one day and perform. It's years of work, consistent work in the dark, finally coming to light.
So what will you do in the dark that will come to light in a few years? Can you be patient in your process? Only time will tell. Run your race at your pace. Compete against who you were yesterday.
--Halo
