One of my favorite authors is Steven Covey. I like him because his ideas are practical and they can be applied almost universally. In his book “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People,” one Covey-ism I especially like is: “Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space lies our freedom and power to choose our response. In those choices lie our growth and our happiness.”
When I first read that quote just a few short months ago, I liked it so much that I highlighted it in bright orange. I couldn’t have known then how soon I would be leaning on that quote to give me strength and encouragement to face a very serious health issue.
Finding out that I had stage three ovarian cancer – the “stimulus” – initially engulfed me in a tsunami of emotion. I was nearly numbed, paralyzed – able to react, but not to respond. In time though, I realized the one thing I could do – no, I needed to do – to help myself was to “choose” how I would respond to a situation that I didn’t expect, couldn’t change, and really didn’t like one bit. So I made the choice to focus on the things within my own control – diet, exercise, rest, attitude etc. – and let go of everything else.
Despite my current health challenges, I’ve made it to quite a few Indians games this season. I have to say that I’m pretty impressed with this team. These kids have talent. Over the season their baseball skills should grow even more. And, if they’re anything like so many other kids who have worn a Mountville Indians jersey, they’ll also grow in other important ways; ways that will matter far beyond the confines of a baseball diamond.
They’ll learn that things will happen that they don’t expect, can’t change, and really don’t like one bit. But if they’re paying close attention between the situations drills, batting practices, and game days, they’ll also learn that how they respond to those situations is always a choice – their choice. Sometimes it’s the only thing they actually can control. And recognizing that, then choosing well, will make all the difference.