Having ruined my daughter's slow pitch softball swing for most of the summer, I was pleased she asked for help hitting fast pitch. She's good, has a nice swing, but she's a little afraid (my wild pitching doesn't help). I told her to stand in there, that the worst that could happen is a ball in the face.
Which made me think of all the places I'm afraid, all the times I've bailed out at the first inside pitch – or didn't take an at bat at all. I have turned down or simply ignored career opportunities because I was afraid. "I can't do that," or "the other guy could do it so much better than me, why bother." Ditto for my personal life.
But I'm trying to change. I took a chance in a situation a couple of months ago, took a swing knowing I might get hit in the face, but it turned out extremely well. I am taking a chance on Wednesday, a hanging curve ball in my career that I want to hit. I may strike out, I may foul one off my ankle, but I'm going to take my swing.
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