Life lessons from baseball

It's a Sunday afternoon here in Arizona.  Only 4 more Sundays left of AIT then I get to leave and head back to Minnesota for a few days.  While I'm there, one of my biggest priorities is to get to a Twins game.  Now some think I'm crazy, that I love the sport of baseball so much.  Many don't understand....unless you're a baseball fan.  I call baseball the most romantic sport. Why?  Not only because, sitting outside on a cool summer night, the breeze just slightly blowing, a hotdog in hand, sitting with someone special, talking, reminiscing, living the game, is perfect, but because of the amazing history baseball has.  My dad always asked me "You know what sets baseball aside from any other sport?  It's the only sport without a clock." And it's true, you go to a game because you love it.  You're not in a hurry to leave, you're there because you never know when history will be made.

With sociology as my minor, I also love looking at the social aspects of the game.  What is going on in baseball, really reflects what's happening in the times outside the stadium.  For example, I watched "42" today, the story of Jackie Robinson.  While there was hatred for the man, simply because of the color of his skin, his team banded together, stood up for him as a player, and a man.  Eventually, so did the rest of the country.  You could make the argument that Robinson helped pave the way for the civil rights movement.

Baseball also teaches you about life.  There are hundreds of metaphors and literal lessons that can be learned. Everything I do seems to come back, or has the ability to come back around to the game. Here are some of the lessons I take from it, that someday, I'll pass onto my kids:

1. Play as a team.  In the Army, I find this is a challenge for so many.  Like baseball, there are times when it's on an individual to step up to the plate and hit that home run...or make a sacrifice. Then there's a time when you're in the field and you HAVE to work together.  If you don't, you're going to have errors.

2. Keep your eye on the ball. Any goal we set for ourselves is attainable.  If it wasn't it wouldn't even be a thought in our mind.  However, what people forget, is to reach that goal, you need to keep focusing on it. You have to want it so bad, that when you make contact, you hit it out of the park! You not only achieve your goal, you NAIL it! The best part? As soon as you hit that home run, you get another chance next inning to do it again! Never stop dreaming of hitting that ball. However, we will strike out sometimes, it's part of the game and it's part of life.  It's when you strike out and refuse to go up again, that you fail.  Did you know Babe Ruth is #95 in all time strikeouts, with 1,330 times? It's true, but he never quit.

3. Get your foot off the bag. So many times you see players getting a huge lead off. This is always a risky move, because you're just never sure what that pitcher is thinking.  However, sometimes in life you have to take risks, you have to go for that lead. Sometimes taking that risk is what will win the game. Be smart about it, but don't ever be afraid.

4. Get dirty.  As much as I love seeing the crisp, clean uniforms, when you see dirt and grass stains all over those uniforms, you KNOW that player gave their all.  They put their heart and soul into every catch out in left!  Don't be afraid to put your blood, sweat and tears into something you're passionate about.  If you give it your all everytime, you're going to be great.

5. If you're going to go down, go down swinging. You're going to strike out, deal with it.  We fail sometimes, it's called life. However, if you're going to strike out, don't do it by simply letting the ball fly past you. Try for it, and try hard! Do something! Don't just stand there!

6. Life isn't always fair.  I cannot tell you how many times I've been at a game when an umpire is calling strikes when it's clearly outside, or called someone safe when obviously they were out.  Yes, life isn't fair, deal with it and move on. Most times, they player will get up, and move on.  When it's your team, it seems like all the bad calls are on your.  However, as it is with life, it always evens itself out. Again, life isn't fair. It's going to through you curve balls and strikes, but in the end, it will balance itself out.

7. Hard work is just as important as talent.  Some just have natural talent for the sport, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have to work or that the person who doesn’t have as much natural talent won’t be more of an asset to the team. Hard work is more important if you ask me. If you want something you have to work for it. Sometimes you have to stop and ask, "how bad do you want it, and how hard are you willing to work for it?"  If you want something bad enough, you'll work everyday for it. In the end, the hard work will pay off.

8. The art of losing. I admit it, I’m a little on the competitive side. Everything I do is a competition and I don’t like being second place. However, losing isn’t always a bad thing. It teaches you how not to be a sore loser. It teaches you to be humble. There is always a winner and a loser and if you’re smart, you’ll find the lessons in losing. What went wrong? What could be better? What do you need to work on? If you can get real with yourself and learn from those mistakes, you’ll only come back stronger!

9. Sometimes it's all about the sacrifice. Sure, we all want that Grand Slam and to see our team mates come running out of the dugout to great us and the fans stand up and cheer, but sometimes what the team needs is a sacrifice. He wants you to bunt knowing that you will most likely get out but that runner on third needs to come home. It’s not always about us and what we want, sometimes we need to sacrifice for the good of others or our team. Life is about sacrifice.

10. Finally, have fun.  Whatever you do in life you have to love it. Passion is what makes life worth living. Baseball, like life, is a game. Through it all you’ll have good times and tough times but you must have fun and love what you do or it’s not worth it.  Find what you are passionate about and go after it. Life is too short to not enjoy every moment.


Every year I look forward to spring training, because I know SOON, I'll be able to be back at that park, the breeze in my hair, hotdog in hand and lucky hat on my head, cheer for my MN Twins

The journey continues...

So it has been a few months since I wrote last and oh my gosh, how life has changed a million times.

It's now been a LONG time since I started this journey.  So, here's a quick recap of the last 5 years of my life:

I was big. Really big.  I had a goal. I met that goal. And now, the story goes on...

Four months ago I left my cozy home in Chanhassen Minnesota for the world of the Army.  I got to basic training and what a trip that was!  I went to Fort Jackson, South Carolina and met some people I am so fortunate to call life long battle buddies.  Adjusting to all the yelling was hard, but obviously I survived. It was not nearly as challenging as I thought it would be.  PT in the morning was meh, it was those long marches carrying the weapons ALLLL day that really sucked. I learned a lot though, about me and what I could take and just how much I really loved the Army.  The ten weeks went by so quickly, I felt like I blinked and they were gone.  What I missed most: music! Whenever we got onto the buses that took us to places, and the radio was on, oh my it was a little bit of heaven. The obstacle courses were fun!  It was a lot of team building which in itself was a blast. I wish I could recap the whole ten weeks, but that would be pretty much impossible.  The thing I took out most from it, is the fact that I was able to do it.  When I started this thing at 266 pounds, if you told me I'd make it through basic training, I'd laugh.  When I marched on that field on graduation day, I was SO damn proud!

I'm now in the middle of my next step, AIT.  The information we're learning isn't necessarily hard, there is just SO much of it! Intelligence is  fun field, and there are a lot of people who don't like it, but I'm good with it.  Like everything I've learned on this journey, it's all what you make of it. I'm not the smartest in class, I'm not the strongest and fastest at PT, but I'll be damned if I don't have a lot of heart. I worked for over four years to get here.  And like my friend said to me before I left, during these next few months, it won't always feel like a dream, and I'm going to want to give up, but remember it's what I worked for. Since I've been here, life at home has been difficult which is putting a strain on my classes, but like my mentor said, I'm here to train, I'm here to be the best I can be at my job and nothing else really matters.  I've already been setting goals for myself for beyond the TRADOC life.  I'd love to get into counter Intel.  It's a lot of work, and I've already started studying for it.  The other thing I've been taking from this whole experience is the concept of integrity.  I've always held myself to a high standard for honesty, but now I'm holding everyone else to my level. (Sorry people!) Unfortunately, because of this concept, I'm going to be seeing a lot of world with just my dog. Life is throwing me curve ball after curve ball and I'm learning to go with it.  Sometimes the hardest thing to do in life is start over.  Okay, not sometimes, the hardest thing in life IS starting over.  10 years ago, if you came up to me and said "Cara, you're going to be in the Army, with a strong career, true battle buddies that have your back and a life you love," I would have laughed.  I never realized how unhappy I was until I got here.

What's next? Well, I'm headed to Colorado for the next three years of my life! I'm heading to 4th ID, 1st battalion! I am SO excited to start this life. I'll be a couple hours from blood family and a friend I've known my whole life!  I'm going to be with a battle buddy from basic, and my battle boo from here in AIT! Life is just beginning!

Sure, change is scary. My platoon sgt told us tonight "I don't even know where home is anymore," and that's a scary thought. However, in basic we had a Drill Sgt who reiterated daily "Home is where you hang your hat."  Yesterday my hat was in South Carolina, today it's in Arizona, tomorrow will be Colorado.  Every place I've gone has become home, not because it's where I sleep, or even where I hang my hat, but because I've learned that the Army is a big family, and home is where your heart is.  My heart is with the Army. I love this life, and right now, there is nothing I'd change about it.

So, my friends, the journey continues......

Saying "goodbye..." for now.

I want to keep this short and sweet.

Three and a half years ago I started this blog to document my journey thinking it may never end.  Now I sit here writing my final blog before I leave for basic training and start my life as a soldier.

I've gained friendship, love, a new respect for me and others, and most importantly I've found the confidence to follow my dream and hopefully inspired you to do the same.

Thank you everyone for all your support, your love, you confidence your prayers and for being strong WITH me!

So for now I say, Happy trails my loves, until we meet again...

SEE YOU IN 10 WEEKS EVERYONE!!!

Lessons Learned

I was sitting talking to a friend the other day and we ended up talking about friendship.  I started thinking about all the people I've met in these last four years.  Many have come, some have gone, but ALL of them have taught me many many lessons.

The first lesson I learned was about distance.  Over these last four years, I've lost a couple because they said we simply do not talk enough, we don't see each other enough, and it's as if I don't care. If that really is the way I made people feel, I am truly sorry.  However, I have a friend who I would lay down my life for, who I would drop everything for and simply would trust my life to.  However, I see her MAYBE once a month, and now, it's going to be a lot less.  This woman is someone I have known for years!!  Then I stop and think, and I realized, there are at least two friends I can think of that I would put in this classification. I know that I'm not going to get to talk to them much in these next 6 months, however, the lesson I took from these two, is no matter how far apart, or how little I get to see them, a true friend will always be there! As humans we mess up, and no matter how hard we try, we aren't perfect, but friends take you no matter which way you come!

My second lesson came from the most unexpected place.  A group of women that I have SO little in common with, yet consider them friends for life. They've taught me a most valuable lesson, that we all are supposed to learn when we're little: never judge a book by its cover.  When Norm came  up to me and said "I have a bootcamp class, they're a bunch of moms" I thought "Oh...great...suburban housewives." Whoa, was I wrong.  This group is a whole mess of strong thinkers, strong willed, BEYOND caring, sometimes to a fault, genuine, sweet, funny, and I think if I pulled out the dictionary next to the word "amazing" would be a picture of this group.I feel bad now saying I ever had any prejudice towards the thought of moms (I know it sounds silly, it's just one of those things.)  It was simply something I never understood and I've had the opportunity to change my whole mindset.  Because of them, I've gotten to see a whole different side to life.

There are things I've learned from so many other people, too.
- I've learned that it's okay to fail, it's how you handle it is what counts.
- I know it's all right to let go a bit, and not have to be the tough one ALL the time.
- The most important thing in life, is to make yourself number one, and TRULY believe it.  If you don't care for you, you can't help anyone else.
- Being religious and being spiritual are okay. Religion isn't always a bad thing.  Having faith that someone is watching over you is very comforting.
- Stop comparing yourself to others.  Ignore their lives on Facebook, most of the time it isn't true (or greatly exaggerated to make us think things are perfect!) Besides, everyone is different! Their goals are probably not the same as yours,  So the only person you should be comparing yourself to, is you!
- Accept love and accept help.  Most of the time, the two are connected. The ones who want to help you the most are the ones who love you the most.
- Never assume anything.  You don't know where your next blessing can come from, or how it may appear.  So many times we don't realize it until it has passed, either.
- Don't take one moment for granted.  At merely a week to go, I'm learning to appreciate, enjoy and embrace every moment I have with the people I love.  Sit, talk, laugh, cry, learn from each other.
- Last, but I think one of the most important, never, ever, EVER NEVER give up! No matter what your dream is.  No matter who thinks you are crazy for it, if it's what you want, don't let anyone tell you no! Every person has the will, the desire and the drive to follow their dreams! Maybe it takes a month, maybe four years maybe longer.   But look deep and what you've always dreamed of, and DO IT!!! I KNOW YOU CAN! If no one else believes in you, I do!  I understand, but more importantly, I know you can!

These last four years, I've learned SO much from so many different people from EVERY walk of life!  These next  few months are going to push me to levels I've never seen, but because I know I've learned what I have, I know I'll take all these lessons I've learned and become an even better soldier!

And so the countdown begins...

Wow...I have not realized how long it has been since I posted, eek!

As you all know, I am in the United States Army.  I get to leave at the end of this month for Fort Jackson, South Carolina for ten weeks.  After that, I hop over to Fort Hachuachuca, Arizona for 17 weeks.

Since the beginning four years ago, I decided I would start counting down when I got to the below 20 days mark (which I never thought would actually happen!)  Wouldn't you know it? I am just a day or two shy away!! I am officially at the point of my journey where I won't be able to say goodbye to everyone I want to.

I had my first MAJOR goodbye this weekend. I had to say farewell to a couple of my nearest and dearest friends.  I promised myself I wouldn't cry...alas, that didn't work out so well. I only get to see these girls every couple months now, but I know I'm only an hour or two away.  Now, I'll be across the country and won't be able to just pick up on a Saturday and go visit.  It broke my heart to say goodbye.

Now, I have all these invites to "saying goodbye" get-togethers! If there could only be one lesson I take away from these past four years, it's that I have amazing people in my corner.  People who genuinely care and want me to succeed! Whether I see them everyday, or once every three months, I know I have amazing people with me. I am so lucky to have people to miss!

There aren't many times when I'm not sure what to say.  I'm almost at under 20 days and there aren't enough words to express how much I wish I could see EVERYONE and spend quality time with each person who has taken this journey with me!

 

You all gave me SO many gifts, so many lessons learned and so much love. No matter where I may end up, I will always remember all of you!

 

Please, watch this video, because the queen of pop can say it so much better than I! 

Madonna- I'll Remember: Dedicated to all of you who went through this with me

2012 IN REVIEW

I feel really sorry for 2013.  Why? Because 2012 was such an amazing year, it has really big shoes to fill.  As Christmas approaches, that means the new year is right around the corner.   The year of the dragon is going to be the year I talk about to my grandkids. Thanks to Facebook, I've been able to relive my last 365 (give or take a few) days.  To make it easy, this is the recap of the year.



1. Races. I started with this merely because, on January 1st, I ran a nice easy 5k, the Polar Dash.  My streak of Team Ortho races continued.  I completed the Get Lucky 7k...then finally concluded the fall with the Monster Dash half marathon!!! This was one of the dreams I got to cross off of my dream board, half marathon...check!

                             



2. The birth of my nephew (Rachel, I'm going in semi chronological order...he's #1 in my heart!) The birth of August Frederic Scherer is the biggest and most wonderful event of 2012!!!  This baby, while he's only about 11 months old, has made me fall so in love with him!! I would do anything for Auggie and I cannot wait to see him grow up and see what he is going to become!! How lucky of him to be able to be raised in a family of so many opportunities! He's going to not only have a wonderful upbringing with his education and home, but he will ALWAYS, ALWAYS be loved, no matter where he goes, or what he does!!


 



3. Auggie's baptism.  I know with the birth this should be included, but this was a big deal. I was so honored to be there and get to see the welcoming into his church family, I thought it was a big event all in itself!!  And yeah, he didn't even cry!! The world is SO blessed to have August in it, and I think he knows it already! :) 


4. Tough Mudder and Warrior Dash. I got to complete these two challenges with an amazing group of people.  First, Tough Mudder.  This was absolutely the hardest obstacle course I've ever done!!  I was lucky enough to complete it with two women who kicked my butt along the way! They wouldn't let me quit, they never gave up.  They helped me conquer TWO fears...we got through the obstacles together!!   Later that summer, I also had the chance to run the Warrior Dash with a crazy group of ladies (and one Norman!) We crossed the finish line together and was a feat that none of us will ever forget!!

5. Amazing Ambush makeover.  Okay, how could I NOT include something this amazing?!? The wonderful ladies of Norman's Next Level Bootcamp, all were in on this crazy secret! I was jumped (okay, not really jumped...rather ambushed!) at bootcamp and was given a total makeover!! I went back to the red which I've always loved, I discovered that I was kinda cute actually, and what I learned most, is that I have the BEST group of friends in women who I never thought I'd ever have anything in common with.  These women are crazy awesome, and I thank God every day that they were put in my life!!

6. The Minnesota Twins. The summer of 2012, I'm gonna talk to my grandkids about the summer I got to work for the Minnesota Twins!! I've never worked for an organization that treated their employees better than the Twins.  Not only that, the people who work for them are top notch.  I made so many new friends and experienced a bond that I've never gotten to before.  We all work for a place that we have a passion for, and always will!!  Not only did I meet a ton of new folks, I got to work with my own pops, too! :)

           

7. Tampa Bay vs. MN Vikings game.  Sorry Vikings fans ahead of time!  Yes, the Buccaneers DOMINATED at the dome!! Not only that, but I got to meet Josh Freeman (again) I met a man who works for the Bucs who is gonna not only get me a tour of Raymond James in Tampa, not only did he get me a flag to fly in MN, not only did he get me a Ronde Barber autograph, but he is giving me the chance to MEET RONDE BARBER!! Seriously...yay 2012, FO SHO!!               

8. Next to the birth of August, came the biggest event of all.  The one I've been waiting and working so hard for, for almost four years. I ENLISTED INTO THE UNITED STATES ARMY. If you didn't hear, I'm going in as a 35F, Intelligence Analyst. Basically, I'm going to know a lot of stuff ahead of time and can't tell anyone! I am so excited! I will be leaving in late February for basic training at Fort Jackson South Carolina. From there I'll be heading to Arizona for 17 weeks to learn my job.  I have no idea where from there, but hey, that's part of the mystery!

SO...there was SO much more.  All the amazing people I've met, events like the State Fair and family gatherings.  2013 is right around the corner and I for one, am anxious to see what it may bring!! Merry Christmas to you and your families and may your New Year be blessed, exciting and EVERYTHING you want it to be!!

LOVE AND PEACE TO ALL!!

I found the other side of the rainbow...

For the last 3 years, 10 months and 5 days (but who's counting), I've been dreaming of how I was going to write this blog.  What would I say? How would it feel?

Well, the day has arrived!! I made tape today!!! I CANNOT BELIEVE IT (Okay, yes I can, but it's a bit like a dream.)   I have one more little hoop to jump through which should be solved tomorrow.  (I know it'll go through, 'cus I've taken care of it once before.) As soon as I do that, I get my waiver from the Army, then I, Cara Ann Berg Rainey, get to swear in!!  UUFDAH! I never thought I'd get to this day.

Let me start. Since the day after Thanksgiving, I've been on a STRICT diet.  I've been working everyday, focusing on every bite, watching every calorie I burn! It's been the longest two weeks of my life!!  The end result: I was only 4 pounds over the limit, HOWEVER, I was 2% under my needed body fat percentage.  This was definitely a record for me. I worked hard for that 2% my friends! Now, time to focus on losing these last pounds so maybe, just maybe, I won't have to tape again! :)

So, anyway, I'm on cloud 9 tonight. There's no real way to describe it right now.

Well, there it is.  I feel like, if I can achieve my dream, why oh why can't you? Well, you can! No matter what it takes, never ever give up guys!!