PERSONAL NOTE

First, let me say "Happy Birthday" to my sister back in Virginia, hope you have a fabulous day!  I don't take a lot of trips, but I do enjoy a lot of experiences.  At the end of September, I will be at the MCAS Miramar Air Show watching a lot of amazing pilots and flying machines, including the Blue Angels.   While I will be watching the skies a lot of you are hoping that your team will make it to the World Series.  Thinking about baseball made me think about pitchers throwing curve balls and I know that life throws a lot of them as well. So, let's talk about life's curve balls this month. 

ARTICLE

That Came Out of Nowhere! Now What?

Let’s talk about curveballs—the kind life throws, not the ones from a pitcher’s mound (though both can mess with your footing). Just like a pitcher’s curveball, life can often look like it’s heading one way… until it suddenly dips, twists, or drops out of nowhere, leaving you scrambling to adjust. 

Sometimes, those curveballs are small: a schedule change, an unexpected delay, or a missed appointment that throws off your groove. Other times, they’re bigger—health challenges, job shifts, family surprises, or situations that force you to rethink your plans entirely. But here’s the good news: just like a seasoned batter, you can learn to pivot—and maybe even hit it out of the park.

You can learn to adjust—and even thrive—in those moments. Like a batter at the plate, the more you practice responding to the unexpected, the more confident you become in your ability to stay grounded, even when life throws you a wild pitch.

So, what does pivoting actually look like?

• Pause, Don’t Panic: When something unexpected hits, your brain may jump to problem-solving overdrive—or complete shutdown. A short pause gives you a moment to breathe, recalibrate, and choose your next move intentionally.
• Adjust Your Stance: Flexibility is a superpower and doesn’t mean giving up control—it means adapting your approach. When plans change start to look for alternatives.
• Keep Your Eye on the Ball: Even if the path changes, your purpose doesn’t have to. Refocusing on what truly matters—your values, your goals, your well-being—helps you stay centered through the chaos.
• Don’t Be Afraid to Ask for Help: You don’t need to handle everything solo. Lean on your support system. A conversation, a listening ear, or even a small favor can make a huge difference. Support—whether from friends, family, coworkers, or a coach—can bring fresh perspective and encouragement.
• Give Yourself Grace: Pivoting isn’t always clean or smooth. Sometimes it’s messy and that’s okay. But responding instead of reacting is a win in itself, and you don’t need to handle everything perfectly to make meaningful progress.

The truth is that life will throw curveballs. Some will challenge you. Others will change you. But every one of them holds the opportunity to grow, reset, and show yourself just how capable you really are. The more you practice responding with intention instead of frustration, the more resilient (and confident) you become.

We don’t always get to choose the pitch—but we can choose how we swing. And sometimes, that unexpected swing leads to something even better than what we originally planned. 

GREAT EXCERPT

This can't harm me---I might not have wanted it to happen, but I decide how it will affect me. No one else has the right. --- Taken from The Obstacle Is The Way by Ryan Holiday.  This is a little book with powerful insights recently revised and updated.  I highly recommend it.  

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Stay safe, healthy, and happy!

Coach Jan