In the 21 years that I have been alive, I have devoted about 16 years to the thing I have fallen in love with: the game of softball. I have cried tears of joy, pain, anger and sadness over this game. To people on the outside who haven't had the blessing to play softball it may just be a game, but to me it's so much more. Softball has taught me life lessons and molded me into the person I am today. So in honor of all the summer tournaments, softball practices and games that are getting going again, here are just a few of the many ways that softball has blessed my life.

1. Lifelong Friendships Formed

From summer city league ball as a kid to school ball to travel softball to college ball, I have met so many people. Not just coaches and teammates but I have made friends with teammates friends as well. Of course as we grow up we may grow apart but we will always have memories of games lost or games won that will keep us together. I have made friends through softball that I could not live without today. They are my rock and they keep me going. Looking back, the saying that "everything happens for a reason" is so true. Softball has been like a domino effect for my life, one thing after another that has led me to where I am today with the amazing people that I call my best friends.

2. Teamwork

Often in today's society we are taught to be more defensive and lookout for ourselves. Just like any sport, softball has taught me teamwork. I have learned to work with people I barely knew in order to be successful. Unfortunately, many kids today do not get to understand how important teamwork is in your everyday life. Thankfully, softball (and most sports for that matter) teach kids how to be a good teammate and carry their teamwork into their everyday lives.

3. Hard Work and Dedication

Playing softball has taught me truly what hard work is all about. I have dedicated so much time into this sport just so I could be where I am today. While most kids were spending their summers on the lake or having sleepovers with friends, I was traveling to a different tournament every weekend. There were many times that I would miss out on something because of softball but I was dedicated to the sport I love. If I had a dollar for every time I had to tell someone I couldn't do something because of softball I would be rich but I wouldn't have it any other way. Softball has taught me that you get out of life what you put into it. Because of this, I work hard in everything I do.

4. Sportsmanship

Attitude makes the world of difference, not just in softball but in everything you do. Softball has taught me that having a good attitude will get you a lot farther in life than most things. Win or lose, you have to walk through the line with your head held high knowing you gave it your all and did your best and that's all anyone could ever ask for. Having good sportsmanship isn't just not running the score up on a team but sometimes it's being the bigger person, being honest and doing what's right. As an adult, we will carry these attributes over into our daily lives as we deal with the workforce and people in general.

5. Life Lessons

Softball has taught me so many things. It is so much more than a game. From lecturing coaches to loving parents and dedicated teammates, softball has taught me more than any class in school ever could. I have learned how to be thankful for what you've got. It's taught me how to love not just the game but how to love myself. Softball has taught me to live in the moment because once something's gone you can't get it back. It has taught me how to be a good listener and how to be outgoing. Softball has taught me how to be a leader.

All in all, softball has taught me more about myself than I could ever imagine. Whether I am coaching, playing or just watching the game, I am always learning something new. I can't wait to see what the game has in store for me in the future.