Throwback Thursday: Let's Adapt

How well do you adapt to change?

Do you get frazzled when the weather is not what they predicted, fussy when a meeting gets moved - or out of sorts when the outfit you'd planned to wear is wrinkly?

I think back to some of the times in my life where I've been dealt a bad hand and thought "why me". The path and the plan were laid carefully one way on a yellow-brick road in my mind, but the direction I was steered was the gloomy, dark and spooky road... and I've come out it shining every time because I adapted.

Take softball - many of you may not know that I grew up playing softball and earned my way through college with a scholarship for being a pitcher. In the 'glory days', pitching was my life and it was my identity. Without it I don't know what my life would look like today and I'm so thankful for every opportunity it provided me with. Pitching was my livelihood - but would you have ever guessed that when I started playing at the tender age of 5 all I wanted to do was be the catcher? I was strong and I had a great understanding of the game from watching my brother play so it was a natural fit.

When I turned 8, I left my eye appointment with my first pair of glasses and was quickly told by my coaches that I couldn't be a catcher anymore. As much as the mask comes on and off of a catcher's face, they didn't want that liability and therefore they told me to pick something else out.  I huffed and puffed, but decided that I wanted to be a pitcher because if I couldn't be catcher I'd be the next most important player on the field. From adversity I found my calling, a passion and an outlet to earn me three college degrees - I'd say that's success.

This is the way I'm seeing my current career path - I started a job three months ago where I was excited to be mentored and taken in under the wings of my teammates to develop my skills. Two months later and still naive to the reality of my decision I found myself out in the rain having to discover solutions on my own, pave my own path and guide others down a road where I'm not sure what lies beyond. This is growing up, right? I have confidence in myself to overcome because I've proven time and time again that I can shovel manure and come out smelling like a rose.

I'm a planner and I like to have a vision for the future, but sometimes life can throw you a curve and you need to be open to letting the universe point you down the path of self-discovery instead of dwelling over circumstances that are out of your power. You are better than you give yourself credit for.

So am I.

Today's Throwback Thursday is brought to you by showing up, gearing up and being ready to take the curve-ball.