The so-called hero’s journey is one of the most fundamental tropes in storytelling. In fact, if you line them up in a chart the stories are all pretty similar.

One of the key points, whether you’re talking about Ulysses or Hercules from ancient mythology or more contemporary heroes such as Frodo Baggins, Dorothy Gale (from The Wizard of Oz), Anna and Elsa, or Luke Skywalker, the path the hero must walk is never smooth or easy. It’s filled with trials and tribulations, setbacks and betrayals, dark moments of doubt, and other challenges before the hero ultimately (and often barely) triumphs.

So it’s amazing to me how people think their or their daughter’s softball journey should be filled with nothing but sunshine and unicorns, one success after another without any setbacks or suffering whatsoever. Sorry, it doesn’t work that way.

Even those who turn out to be the highest-level players often tell stories about how they were the fourth or fifth pitcher on their travel team for years, or how they could barely crack the lineup in pool play or their first couple of years of high school ball before they became the player we all came to know. In fact, in real life as in fiction, it’s the trials and tribulations they go through that make them capable of being heroes when the moment arises.

Rather than fearing or avoiding adversity, it’s important to embrace it. It’s a lot easier to weather the next storm (and there’s always a next storm) when you’ve already gotten through the last one.

Besides, if there weren’t challenges and obstacles to overcome that softball journey would be pretty danged boring. There is no triumph with challenge.

In other words, if Frodo could just take a casual stroll into Mordor without all those evil forces pursuing him and putting his life at risk, it wouldn’t be much of a story. It certainly wouldn’t be one that has become beloved and retold many times since it was first released in 1954.

The same with Ulysses and Hercules, which are many centuries older. If they just did what they needed to do without the trials and tribulations no one would be interested in either of them.

It’s the obstacles that make us who we are. For many (me included, by the way), it’s the people who told us we couldn’t do something or weren’t good enough that kept us working harder to prove them wrong.

It’s the times we failed to reach a goal we really wanted that caused us to double down on our efforts and keep working until we got there.

They say that each of us are the heroes of our own stories. Or at least we should be.

If that’s true, remember that your hero’s journey won’t be nearly as interesting or powerful if it’s all sunshine and puppy dogs. While I’m not advising that you seek out problems, I will say they’re going to find you whether you want them or not.

The key is not to be afraid of them or let them take over your life. Even in the biggest slump or lowest points of your life or softball career, remember that you have the ability to overcome whatever difficulties come your way.

Also remember that heroes rarely do it alone. Anna and Elsa had Kristoff and Olaf. Frodo had the Fellowship of the Ring. Dorothy had the Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Cowardly Lion, Luke had Han and Leia, among others.

Let those around you help you through the tough times and keep your spirits up when you feel like giving up. And in the end, remember when you do triumph over all that adversity, the success will be that much sweeter.

Today’s problems will pass. No one can say exactly when, but they will pass.

When they do, you’ll come back stronger than eve, ready to complete your own hero’s journey, whatever that may be. And you’ll have a great story to go with it.

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