How To Hit The Curveballs Life Throws At You

Some of the most successful (on paper) people I know become miserable because they stop fighting and growing.

Some people peak in high school; you know who they are because they still talk about it all the time. They get stuck living out the glory days in their mind because they failed to keep fighting and growing.

Sometimes we stop fighting and growing because life throws us one hell of a curveball, and despite how many times we swing at it, we seem to strike out over and over again.

This is how it went for me with my back issues. I got hurt when I was 23. I kept thinking my body would eventually heal. I would fight through the pain every day.

But each year that went by I got more humbled by my back; I had to fight off depression, knowing my life would be limited and filled with pain as my back issues got worse and worse.

I kept swinging at that life curveball, but I struck out for 12 years straight.

I am fortunate that I didn’t give up. I credit my wife and family for being supportive throughout those years.

I can now hit that curveball. I can stay in the game.

This past month I took part in a physical challenge call GRIT, which involves daily workouts every day of the month. If you miss a day, you are kicked out of the challenge and have to wait until they offer it again to see if you can make it through the whole month.

The challenge was physically and mentally difficult, but each week it felt like I was hitting home runs because I was doing things that I had long thought I would never be able to do again.
I’m not a machine. I still have pain. I have tough days. This morning I had a lot of pain in my right shoulder, and it feels like my hip is out of place.

But I’m still fighting and growing. That’s what I’ve learned is most important.

The primary way that I avoid striking out from life curve balls with my body is morning stretching. It’s the equivalent to going to a batting cage and getting in 100 reps. Stretching keeps me in the game, it allows me to keep fighting and growing. If I skip it, I pay a price, and experience more pain throughout my day.

What kind of curveballs is your life throwing at you?

If life keeps striking you out, maybe it’s time to find a new batting cage and put in some more reps.

There will always be curveballs, how we handle them is what matters.
Convincing ourselves we should stop trying to hit them is where the real danger is.

Your glory days don’t have to be in your past.
Keep fighting. Keep growing.