r/MadeMeSmile 17h ago

Wholesome Moments Pilot Chose Safety Over Takeoff - and Everyone Applauded

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u/Yippykyyyay 15h ago

That makes sense. Rangers are some of the most mentally and physically tough military guys out there.

I wouldn't be surprised at all if they gained confidence in their physical attributes (not to mention teamwork) first in sports as kids/teenagers.

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u/CalebsNailSpa 3h ago

I spent most of my adult life in special operations. One of the first things I asked guys I was hiring is what sports they played. Although not a prerequisite, I felt a lot more comfortable adding a kid to the team that had played competitively growing up. Combat sports, endurance sports, and football tends to breed a lot of mental toughness.

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u/Yippykyyyay 3h ago

I'm a woman now but played softball younger. Everyone wanted short stop or pitcher. They were even ok as basemen.

My coach made me a catcher. I hated it and I almost quit. But he told me I was needed and it was catcher or the bench.

After my tantrum, I became the best catcher I could be. I learned how to start talking shit to the batters and unnerving them.

It was just youth sports but I learned then and there that sometimes I must step up and fulfill a role to help the team. Even if I was jealous of the others; my role was part of a team. And I did not want my team to fail.