Tim McGraw hit this nail on the head a few years ago with his hit song, “Live like You Were Dying”. For those of you who were hibernating and missed this song, it asks an amazing question: How would you live today if you knew you were dying?
Tim wanted to ride a bull, go skydiving, mountain climbing and to become the kind of father, friend and husband he always wished he had been.
We all know we should live every day of your life like it’s your last day on earth. Tomorrow isn’t promised to anyone and all you really have is right now. But the reality of it is that we often fail to meet this standard because it’s harder to live this kind of life than it is to settle into a routine of average.
Many things in the past couple years have me thinking more and more about the fragile nature of life and how, in a blink of an eye, everything can change. This message is one that I think applies very easily to the game of fastpitch softball, the lives of the kids we coach and how we as coaches decide to coach.
What if this is the last time you get to:
Play in a game?
Go to practice?
Swing the bat?
Throw a pitch?
Plan a practice?
Work with a hitter?
Teach a beginning pitcher?
Would you work harder? Try more? Give a better effort or show the respect for the game that the game deserves?
Of course you would!
We all need to remember that each time you step on the field or into the cage or into the weight room that this could be the last time. What do you want to remember?
Giving it everything, or mailing it in?
Coaches and players are both guilty of the sin of wasted talent! Make up your mind to “Coach/Play like you were dying!”
About the Author: Tory Acheson brings a wealth of knowledge to the Fastpitch Prep staff. He has coached at all levels of the game, including the last 25 years at the college level at the University of Wisconsin – Parkside, Tennessee Tech and Kennesaw State. He began his coaching career at the high school level spending 9 years Whitnall High School in Greenfield, Wis. and is now working as a professional softball instructor.
