Life's Game: Playing Through Rejection and Finding Safety

Life's Game: Playing Through Rejection and Finding Safety

Life can feel a lot like a baseball game—full of innings, strikes, and unpredictable moments. Sometimes we hit home runs, and sometimes we strike out. But whether we’re at bat or in the field, we always have a role to play. And even when the crowd seems silent, even when we feel rejected or left out, we are still safe on the field.

Rejection is one of the hardest things to face in life, especially when you’re trying your best. Remember those days as a kid, when you stood there hoping to be picked for the team? Sometimes, we were the last ones to be chosen, and that sting of rejection stayed with us. But here’s the thing: even if you weren’t picked first, you were still part of the game. You were still out there, in the field, and that alone is a victory.

In life, we experience a lot of "strikes"—moments when things don’t go our way, when we feel like we're missing the mark, or when the things we want feel just out of reach. It’s easy to feel like we're failing when we get caught in the moments of rejection or disappointment, like a baseball soaring through the air and no one being there to catch it.

But even in those moments, we are still safe. Just like in baseball, where the umpire calls "safe" when a runner slides into home plate, we are still safe no matter how many times we’ve been struck out or caught in the air. The game isn’t over. And even when the world feels like it’s rejecting us, when it feels like we’re the last ones picked, we are still worthy of playing. We are still part of the game.

In the innings of life, some moments will be harder than others, just as there are innings when the other team seems to be getting all the runs. But that doesn’t mean the game is over. It’s just one inning. The next inning brings new opportunities to step up to the plate, to show up again, and to keep going.

Healing from trauma is like playing through a series of games, full of twists, turns, and challenges. We might not always get things right, and sometimes the world seems to leave us on the sidelines. But we still have the chance to step up to the plate, even when we’re uncertain. And no matter what happens, there’s a safe space for us, just like that base where we can rest when we’re feeling overwhelmed.

Sometimes, life is about showing up, not about winning the game. It’s about how we play, how we keep going, and how we find the courage to step back up to bat, even when it feels like we’ve been struck out. So, whether you’re in a tough inning or you're still waiting to be picked, remember: You’re still in the game. You’re still safe. And your story isn’t over yet.

Kathe'rine