In 2015, I coached girls’ youth softball . . . ages 10 – 12, specifically. It was early spring in the Pacific Northwest and our team had traveled for its first tournament of the season. Migrating from indoor practices to on-field play had been slow due to lingering cold weather and typical seasonal rains. So, understandably, the girls were apprehensive about playing their first game. They had the jitters.

I sat the girls down in a stretching circle after they completed their warm-ups. I asked each of them to share with the group how they are feeling now and how they would like to be feeling by the end of the game — getting them to visualize the positive progression from now to then.

One girl’s response was so unassumingly profound that it has stuck with me for the last ten years. Gabby quietly stated that she was “Nerve-cited.” I looked quizzically at her and had to ask for a definition. “It’s a combination of ‘nervous’ and ‘excited’ — because I feel BOTH right now!” Gabby further explained that she would like to go from “Nerve-cited” to “EXCITED!” by the end of the game. The rest of the team agreed and glommed on to that concept and we ran with it. I can’t remember, 10 years later, if we won or lost that game – but that part doesn’t matter.

What matters today is that I am feeling nerve-cited about everything I’m about to embark upon. But my goal is to feel EXCITED very, very soon.

Yesterday I stepped away from paying work for the next 16 months (possibly longer). In two week’s time I will venture to England to learn my team and skipper assignment. I will complete my final round of Clipper Race training with my assigned teammates, Skipper, and First Mate.

From the wisdom and creativity of unbridled youth, I am quite positive that I, too, will transform from NERVE-cited to EXcited. Let’s go!