Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Can’t Do It?

Can’t Do It?
"I’ve often heard the phrase used for athletes and
musicians, “They were born with natural talent.” I know
that some people can sing better than others and some can
play baseball better than many others. Granted, some people
are born with physical advantage that may be better suited
for certain sports, such as above average height, weight, or
bone structure which will make it a little easier for a person
to succeed in a given sport.
More importantly though is the athlete who loves his
given sport and has a desire to succeed. When a person
has a true burning desire, he can compete against the best.
A burning desire drives an individual, pushing him to
greatness.
It’s a well-known fact that many Olympic athletes
practice ten to twelve hours every day for many years in
preparation for the Olympic games. Now think about this:
If you were to practice a given sport with the proper attitude
for ten hours a day and were strengthening your body over
the years, don’t you think that you, too, could excel in the
sport? Maybe you would not be the best, but perhaps you
would be in the top ten percent of all the players in the
game.
This brings to mind a professional baseball player
named Jim Abbott who played for the New York Yankees.
Jim was born with only one hand – his left. Picture yourself
trying to play professional baseball with the great players
in the major leagues and being able to use only your left
hand.
Jim Abbott was a starting pitcher for the Yanks. He
usually pitched about eight innings a game. Not only could
he play the game, which is remarkable in itself, but Abbott
was also a very good pitcher.
How did he do it? Well, what he did was catch the ball
from the catcher with his glove on his left hand. He then
held the glove against his right limb, the stub with no hand.
Then, with the limb resting against the glove, he’d wind up
and pitch the ball. As soon as he had thrown the ball, he
would slip his left hand into the glove. Abbott, believe it or
not, could actually pitch the ball with one hand and field the
ball very well if it was hit back to him.
Talk about “burning desire” and faith in oneself! He
was in the Major Leagues for many years starting in 1989,
and in September 4, 1993 he even pitched a no hitter against
the Cleveland Indians. It’s amazing what some people can
do when they want something badly enough.
If you think you can’t do something, think about Jim
Abbott. “All things are possible as long as you long for it
enough!” By changing your attitudes, you will change your
results."
C- 2005 John Paul Carinci -from the book The Power Of Being Different

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