Rutherford Softball Camp Practices Mindfulness!

The game of softball has made a profound impact on my life in more ways than one. I have always viewed softball as a microcosm of life and this attitude has helped me develop a "practice of perspective" that I am so very grateful for. In any athletic program, we learn through the duality of "positive and negative experiences" that this interconnectedness drives us to rise as a synergized whole... to be a teammate goes far beyond sharing an interest with the person standing beside you. There is so much value in being "mindful" and connected to those who cross or walk along side us on our path in life. I would like to thank the Rutherford Softball Camp for the invitation to be a "guest speaker/instructor" twice in the past month. It was within these brief moments that I was reminded just how much this sport defines a large portion of my being.

The difference between this week and last week was the presence of my child at this camp. Within moments of being introduced to the girls, Cecilia was swarmed by friendly smiles, hands to hold, faces to find laughter and comfort with; I felt right at home and I know Cecilia did too. Cecilia grabbed her little "mit", formerly referred to as her "Yankee hand" and jumped right in with the girls. I mentioned to the girls that Cecilia has never fielded a ground ball before and without hesitation, I watched magic unravel before my eyes. The beautiful transfer of these skills from adolescent to child. They were gentle, kind and motivating my daughter in ways that I have never witnessed before.

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I am often asked if I want my daughter to play softball just as I had and to "follow in my foot steps" and perhaps I am asked this question through association or because we are conditioned by a society that has created these expectations for our children to walk the same path we have. Either way, we cannot lose sight that each of us were born to serve a purpose and part of life's beautiful mystery is through self discovery. There have been times where I played along with this answer, however I felt in my heart that I could never be the one who decides for her what makes her "heart happy." I have sincerely applied this concept for her three years of life and will continue to be conscious about not forcing her play something unless she desires it. I would like to thank the Rutherford Softball Program again for giving me this memorable and inspiring opportunity!

“When you parent, it’s crucial you realize you aren’t raising a “mini me,” but a spirit throbbing with its own signature. For this reason, it’s important to separate who you are from who each of your children is. Children aren’t ours to possess or own in any way. When we know this in the depths of our soul, we tailor our raising of them to their needs, rather than molding them to fit our needs.” ― Shefali Tsabary, The Conscious Parent