I just saw a fantastic photograph at a baseball game of a fan catching a fly-away bat. While the commentary of the poster at the link below had some good points, I had some other thoughts about it.
Look at the faces of all the other people near that bat. So many people when faced with the threat of a rouge bat to the head frown, wince, cower, and even lift a leg. (what's with the leg?)
Look at the guy that caught it. His eyes are closed, which appears to be the common reflex to the danger, seen in the few faces not hidden behind sunglasses, but in spite of that, he musters the presence of mind to reach for the bat.
Next to him (camera left) is the guy who should have caught it, but is instead entirely defensive.
Past him is another guy who might have caught it had he been a little faster with his reach. Notice his face (behind a mysterious foot); he is smiling; smiling. Not even the successful catcher in this picture is smiling.
Seeing these three responses {tentatively successful, defensively un-trying, and happily unsuccessful} made me wonder what I would do. Would I reach out to meet the unexpected threat, or merely try to minimize the damage; and would I be smiling when I did?
I can't help but think I would have been defensive, and not caught it; but now that I've seen this, I hope I will have the presence of mind to at least try.
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