I was desperate to play volleyball in high school. Growing up, I idealized my cousins who played on their high school teams and I wanted to be just like them. Lucky for me I was tall and immediately attracted the attention of the girls volleyball coach. I did not even have to try out, I was just placed on the team!
To my coach’s disappointment, my height did not equal good athletic ability, and instead he had a very lanky, uncoordinated, scared of the ball, middle blocker. Somehow I was able to stay on the team throughout high school. Each year I was astonished I kept making the team because athletically I was not improving. What did improve over the years was my attitude. I knew I was not the best player, but I tried my best. I never missed practice and was happy to sit on the bench and just root my team on. All I cared about was being involved with a group of girls and representing my school. (I also loved the ribbons we got to wear in our hair and the pretty posters on the wall with my name and jersey number on them, so that was a plus). I did not care if kids or parents felt bad for me or wondered why I was wasting my time, I was a part of something that made me happy.
At the end of my last season, the coach was handing out awards and made an announcement that he was giving an award he had never given to anyone before. I was called to the front of the room and presented the “Best Attitude Award“. My teammates and coach believed my attitude brought higher moral to our team and wanted to recognize my behavior. My family and I laugh about this award all the time, realizing athletically I am not the most gifted, but as far as good sportsmanship I thrive, and it is all about the attitude.
Having a good attitude does not always come easy, but it is much easier to live life with a good one rather than a bad one. Marc & Angel wrote, “4 Questions that Will Change Your Attitude (When You Can’t Change Anything Else)” , and it reminded me of the questions I used to ask myself back in my volleyball days. Those years on the volleyball team helped form my behaviors today, and I still ask myself the same questions in order to find my good attitude.
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