Resilience plays a significant role in all of our lives. It’s not just a personality trait, but a set of actions, behaviors, and thoughts that can be developed and nurtured over time. Examples of resilience may include a positive attitude, effective coping skills, healthy thinking, hobbies, and other activities. Resilience enables older adults to adapt to life changes, such as retirement or physical limitations, and find new meaning and health outcomes.
“I can be changed by what happens to me. But I refuse to be reduced by it.”
Maya Angelou
American poet, memoirist, and actress
Resilience is the ability to recover quickly from difficulties and adapt well in the face of adversity, trauma, or significant sources of stress. It involves mental toughness, perseverance, and the capacity to bounce back from setbacks. Resilience is not a fixed trait; it can be developed and strengthened over time through various practices such as positive thinking, mindfulness, and strong social connections.
“It’s not whether you get knocked down, it’s whether you get up.”
Vince Lombardi
American professional football coach
Softball is a popular team sport similar to baseball but played with a larger ball on a smaller field. It can be played in fast-pitch, slow-pitch, or modified-pitch formats, each with slightly different rules. The game involves two teams alternating between batting and fielding. The objective is to score runs by hitting the ball and running around a series of bases to reach home plate. Softball emphasizes teamwork, strategy, and physical fitness, making it an engaging and enjoyable sport for all ages.
“Life doesn’t get easier or more forgiving, we get stronger and more resilient.”
Steve Maraboli, Life, the Truth, and Being Free
Resilience and Softball
Developing resilience can involve facing and conquering challenges, which in turn, strengthens an athlete’s ability to cope with future difficulties. Batting a softball can result in various types of injuries. Common ones include ankle sprains, knee injuries, shoulder injuries, and wrist and elbow injuries. Fielding softballs can cause injuries and often do. Senior softball and resilience go hand in hand. The love of the game draws players to rehab and to get back on the field.
“Softball isn’t just a sport, it’s a passion—a dream.“
Dot Richardson
American physician and former two-time gold medal-winning Olympian softball player at shortstop
Emotional resilience may be the most difficult of all! It requires an ability to adapt, bounce back, and thrive, despite adversity or challenging emotions. Knowing what to expect from an injury can cultivate optimism and lead to a solution-oriented approach to recovery. Remember, emotional resilience isn’t about avoiding negative emotions. It’s about learning how to navigate emotions effectively.
In review, resilience isn’t just about physical recovery but also about maintaining a positive mindset and focusing on the present to be the best you can be.
“The difference between winning and losing is most often not quitting.”
Walt Disney
American film and TV producer
Combining resilience with playing softball can enhance one’s experience and performance in the sport. Facing challenges on the field—such as striking out, making errors, or losing games—requires resilience to stay motivated, learn from mistakes, and continue improving. The teamwork and camaraderie in softball also provide a supportive environment that fosters resilience in players.
“Softball teaches you to be resilient, to keep pushing forward even when the odds are against you.”
Sue Enquist
Former softball player and coach
Softball, like any other sport, teaches us to persevere, stay strong, and keep pushing forward no matter the challenges.
What inspires you to stay resilient?
If we stay engaged; we can exhibit greater resilience than the younger generation!
