Baseball as Metaphor for Life?

I'm sure it's been done before, many, many times.  But I haven't been able to think that way, or handle that way of thinking before.

Now I think I can.

Baseball.

Everyone is cheering for their team.  When their team does well, all is grand.  When their team doesn't.... that's a whole different story.

Pitchers do their best to pitch with the support of their fielders for those pitches that make contact.  The fielders are prepared for almost any scenario, as they practice, practice, practice!  Same goes for the pitchers and catchers.

But there's a variable.  The batter.
You can't always predict what the batter will do, despite statistics and analysis.  It's a bit of a wild card.

Like in life.

You can be prepared for everything you can possibly prepare for.  You can study your opponents.  You can practice your pitches.  You can run through plays on the field.

But until that batter, your opponent, steps into the batters box.... you won't know how it will all play out.

Like in life.

Where you try to be planned and prepared for your day, your week, your month.  Where you try to have preventions in place to avoid major catastrophes.  Where you try to take your knowledge of your routines, your job, your expectations, your community, and know how to participate in your world without too much worry. 

Sure, people worry about money and jobs and kids, but in general, you know that life is going to be pretty routine, or so you hope.

Until the next batter comes up.
And swings at your splitter.
And rocks the world that you've grown comfortable and knowledgeable in navigating.

What then?

Day 15: A Day in the Life

Day 15 Prompt: A Day in the life (include photos from throughout your typical day - this could be "a photo an hour" if you'd like.)

Out-of-the-Box

That seems to be where I spend a good deal of time.  Thinking outside of the box.  I've always thought it to be a good thing, but lately, I'm not so sure.  It seems that sometimes, or so I've been told, thinking outside the box scares those that prefer to spend their time inside the box.  Ironically, just yesterday, I read a GREAT article about this exact topic on another blog.  Seems that most people find comfort within their little box.  But in some cases, people outgrow the box, for whatever reason, and decide to leave it behind.

And that makes others very nervous.  Cause being an outside-the-box thinker is who I am naturally.  Which these days, I'm not sure I like.

Some people might say that living inside the box is lonely and isolating, but I'm experiencing the opposite.  Seems that there are few people who naturally think outside of the box.  So really, I'm finding the outside rather lonely, and to be honest, a bit frightening.  I'd much rather have preferred to stick in the box if I knew it would protect me from ridicule and bullying that has escalated the more I spend time outside the box.  People inside their boxes feel threatened by me (or so I'm told) and would rather I stop thinking the way I do, which is kinda impossible.

I can understand their perspective to a degree, I mean, there is definitely comfort in consistency and security that the box offers.  But..... not everyone is comfortable in the box..... so please, if you know someone who is an outside the box thinker, even if you don't always get where they are coming from, please don't make fun of, or ridicule, or bully them into believing they are wrong for the way they naturally think.  That doesn't help anyone.  And to be honest, it hurts.  A lot.  Because while questioning oneself can be a good reflection tool, when done from a critical perspective, it does more harm than good.

Comfort Zone

I am a person who loves routine and stability.  Which is why when I was asked to step out of my comfort zone, and do something that I'd rather not do, I panicked.

A few weeks ago I, was encouraged to start volunteering.  I mean, why not?  Anne Frank said "no one ever became poor by giving."  She may have meant that in financial terms, but I think it also applies to time.  I do have time to give, so why not give some?

Because I am afraid.  That's why.  Because I am afraid to commit doing something that I might not be able to handle.  How do I know I won't be able to handle it?  I don't.  And I won't, unless I try.  No matter how scared I am, I have to try.

So this afternoon I finally took a chance and emailed an organization I am interested in volunteering for.  According to their website, they require a minimum commitment of one hour a week.  I think I can handle that.  At least, I hope I can.  Volunteering is something that would help me in so many ways, especially volunteering for an organization like the one I chose to contact. Now that the ball is in motion, I'm in that information gathering stage, where I need to know as much as possible, so I can find a bit of a life preserver as I head out of my comfort zone and into the zone where the magic happens.

Here's hoping for some magic.....