Comments on: What I Learned From My First (and Only) Home Run

By: What I Learned From 2007 - Robert Hruzek | Middle Zone Musings

What I Learned From 2007 - Robert Hruzek | Middle Zone Musings — Wed, 26 Dec 2007 12:03:41 +0000

[...] December – Here are three key life-lessons I learned as a boy about being prepared, opportunity knocking, and being a winner: What I Learned From My First (and Only) Home Run. [...]

By: All Entries: What I Learned From The World of Sports | Middle Zone Musings

All Entries: What I Learned From The World of Sports | Middle Zone Musings — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 12:03:52 +0000

[...] Writing … High School Sports, by Anna Lenardson at Anna’s Attic And of course – … My First (and Only) Home Run, by Robert Hruzek at Middle Zone [...]

By: Robert Hruzek

Robert Hruzek — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 11:40:43 +0000

Very interesting observation, Jim! Thanks for dropping by and sharing it.

Yeah, I admit; there are a few stories I’ve polished up a bit (nothing told here at the Zone, mind you - I strive for honesty here!). But when I finally admit the truth; well, that’s when the lessons learned REALLY have a chance to show up and take a bow.

By: Jim Stroup

Jim Stroup — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 08:27:42 +0000

Robert,

Wow! I’m with Mike - as you told the story the way you remember it, I also felt like I was looking at the ever narrowing world through your eyes, hearing the roar of the crowd and the thumping of my blood in my ears - who among us hasn’t created a memory (or a daydream) like that?

Then when you described how things really happened, I caught myself smiling shamefaced and avoiding eye contact with the listeners as they laughed and punched me on the shoulder. Well, who among us doesn’t have a rather creaky platform like that on which we build those memories and daydreams?

But the lessons - they’re there anyway, aren’t they? For all our self-kidding, we can sometimes see the gaps and figure out how to close them, to make the platform more sound and requiring less elaboration. Maybe learning how to do that is the real lesson.

What a great essay - I’m glad I found your site, from posts we both made at Ellen Weber’s.

By: Robert Hruzek

Robert Hruzek — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 18:54:05 +0000

Hey, Bob! Well, there may not be a more widely-experienced sport (at least in the US).

By: Bob Glaza

Bob Glaza — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 16:45:32 +0000

Is there really any other sport that teaches so much? Or that holds so many stories? Of course, I’m biased

By: Robert Hruzek

Robert Hruzek — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 16:00:23 +0000

Mike, I knew you’d relate to this one. Thanks!

By: Mike DeWitt

Mike DeWitt — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 15:45:10 +0000

Hey Bob,

Now it’s my turn to say “I felt like I was running right along with you on that story!” Great job as always.

Mike

By: Robert Hruzek

Robert Hruzek — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 15:19:45 +0000

Well, there ya go, Pickel! Now pop that into a post and send me the link and you’re golden!

Yeah, I think some of the most powerful lessons I’ve ever learned were from supposed “negative” events. More often than not they caused me to consider alternatives that I had ignored until then.

Thanks for dropping by!

By: pickel

pickel — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 15:07:26 +0000

Great post. As a senior I got cut from my Varsity Volleyball team, after putting 8 years into the sport. It was tough but I learned to move on. Instead I went into journalism and found that writing is where I was “supposed” to be. I wrote for the school newspaper and yearbook and eventually did in college as well as majored in education/journalism. I also went back to teach and advise for yearbooks and newspapers. So, in retrospect getting cut from the team was one of the best things that happened to me. It is possible that I would never have found my niche if it had not been for that coach.