Something better will come

By Mike Moritz

My sophomore year Spanish teacher was more than a teacher to me. He was, still is and hopefully will continue to act as a mentor to me. I have found myself telling him about things that I only tell my close friends and time and time again, he has always said the right thing to me.

And I remember one of the most the memorable things he taught me, just a few weeks ago.

I'm upset that I'm not get much playing time on Varsity baseball this year (I've accepted it but I'm still upset about it-no one likes being a bench player). He and I stopped in the hallway and asked me how baseball was going. And I was honest with him. I told him it was frustrating that I wasn't playing up to my ability in practice, how I was having trouble with my fielding because I felt too much pressure from my Coach.

I was so successful in Mr. (Senor) Barahona's class. I got an A for the year! Walking into his classroom everyday was a joy in itself. He supported me every step of the way and went out of his way to help me out when I was confused. He was fun and a great person. He's a great story teller and is passionate about everything he says. A moment when he put down the white board marker in the middle of writing a sentence and asked us "How did I become a teacher?" makes class fun, which encouraged me.

Point is, he's an amazing man.

"Mike, I want you to remember something: Something BETTER will happen. You are an amazing kid and truly gifted. Don't you ever forget that."

And the more time I have had for that notion to sink in, the more I realize that it's true.

For one reason AT LEAST.

I found a girl, which didn't work out and I thought that was disappointing at first. But now I have a better one. A better fit for me.

I haven't gotten much playing time. But now I have a really, really, REALLY, good feeling about this summer/fall season.

I just want to pass that lesson on to my peers. And anyone who wants to know. Patiance is a virtue and no one will always have patience but you should try to remember that something happen that makes you unhappy now is building up for something better in the future. Maybe it's something you were looking for or maybe it's a surprise.

But I can tell you that when Barahona looked at me right in the face and told me that, I got chills. And I bought into the notion instantly.

A problem with anxiety

By Mike Moritz

I have had anxiety problems in the past, I have them in the present and I will probably have them in the future. The anxiety can be so bad sometimes that it paralyzes me to seemingly no end, mainly on the baseball field. I have been prone to holding up my swing on 3-1 fastballs down the middle, the exact pitch I was looking for. And when those at bats end badly, you'll be lucky to see me return to the dugout and NOT throw my bat and slam my helmet.

Since receiving mental rehabilitation over the winter (therapy), I have made great strides to new heights, but I'm not there yet. I am not quite where I want to be but I will get there in time and patience is THE virtue here.

I have learned how to breathe, I've learned how to force myself to breathe when the anxiety tightens up my chest. I can slow the game down now. Seeing things happening is something that I can do now while self talking myself into good things, into making a smart play has become pretty natural to me now.

I have been having problems in the field lately, which happened to be a result of my coach, who tends to put pressure on his players and I let my guard down and let him in my head.

But the anxiety does not stop there.

I have a person in my life that I can't seem to stop stressing about. For the first time, I am having legitimate anxiety problems with...my social life. More so, my love life.

Anxiety is a monster, just like it's brother, Fear. And it grows and grows until you start saying things that you just couldn't quite keep in your head. I need to get up and do something, but most of the time, I don't know what I want.

Sometimes I do know what I want-a kiss- and it nags and nags as if it's eating away at my well being. And it grows until I can't sit in class anymore, to the point where one or two deep breaths won't ease it for the time being. I need to remove myself from class, "Mrs. Robbins, can I go to the bathroom?" and find myself not even entering the bathroom. Rather, just finding some place quiet and peaceful, just to breathe, just to slow everything down.

And it works, that's why the human body is so amazing.

Sometimes I can get the opportunity to listen to music during class and I can almost throw the anxiety out just by connecting with music that I love.

Slowing everything, especially in fast moving situations is something that we all have to ability to do and it is our duty, we owe it to ourselves to do breathe and relax our soul, body and mind.