I Don’t Miss the Uniform—I Miss the Person I Was in It

People always ask me,

“Do you miss playing?”

The short answer is yes.

But not for the reasons most assume. I don’t miss the early lifts or conditioning tests. I don’t miss the pressure or the ice baths. And honestly? I don’t even miss game day as much as you’d think.

What I do miss is her—the version of me who wore that uniform. The girl who laced up her cleats and believed that somehow, she could do anything.

The girl who fought for a roster spot every single fall.

The girl who learned how to speak up.

The girl who played through pain and kept showing up.

The girl who had no idea who she was becoming, but showed up anyway.

I miss her.

But I also realized—I don’t have to say goodbye to her. Because she didn’t vanish. She evolved.

She shows up now every time I coach a lesson.

She’s in the voice that tells a girl, “You can do this.”

She’s in the fire that says, “Let’s go one more round.”

So if you’ve walked away from the game and feel a little lost—hear me:

You didn’t lose that version of you. You’re just meeting her again… in a different uniform.

Who were YOU when you played? What did that version of you teach you? Drop a word or phrase below that describes the best version of yourself in the game.

Become the Best Version of Yourself

Softball is about more than the uniform—it's about who you become through the journey. The Diamond Strong Mindset Academy helps athletes build confidence, resilience, and character that lasts long after the final game.

Diamond Strong Mindset Academy

Coach D