The Saga of the Magic Bat — The Impact of Positive Thinking and Deliberate Practice on Athlete Performance

During my third season of Senior Softball, my Metro teammates decided that I had a magic bat. Their rationale was based on my recent hitting exploits. In truth, there had been a radical change in my batting average since the season began but it was not just my bat.

Some Historical Insights

Throughout my childhood, I had never received any batting instruction. I was simply handed a bat and told to hit the ball. With this limited information, I was one of the average hitters in our neighborhood.

At thirty-one, I decided to play in my towns over thirty softball league. The competition was higher caliber than my previous sandlot experience. Although I was an above average fielder, hitting continued to be a challenge. For twenty-five years, I enjoyed the opportunity to play weekly on the softball diamond.

At fifty-five, I decided to hang up my cleats. It was apparent that my mind and body were out of sync. My mind knew what to do but my body’s response was on a one-minute delay.

Reflecting on the past — Appropriate instruction and practice can be the keys to reaching a level of achievement beyond mediocrity. Passion is also required to reach one’s potential.