Life always hits us with curveballs, doesn’t it?

It’s the first day of MCM London Comic Con, and I’m leaning far forward in my chair in a pitch black stage room. Who’s up at the front? Kevin Conroy – the voice of Batman from the Animated Series.

As the session is about to wrap up, one final question comes from the mic: “How does it feel to be the voice of Batman for a generation?”

A thoughtful pause permeates the room.

 “I feel so humbled,” Kevin replies, “Life is so unanticipated. I didn’t know I was gonna end up doing this.”

There’s an authentic gratitude that seems to carry every word.

“It’s all about being able to hit curveballs; life throws nothing but curveballs.”

“You can be angry about it, or you can learn how to hit them – because they’re gonna keep coming.” His voice echoes around the room, as though reverberating within the space.

“I feel so lucky to have had this come my way and to have had the training to hit that curveball. I had the background to be able to step up to the plate to pull it off.”

As he talks about curveballs, I start to think about all the uncanny and unlikely stuff that’s happened in my life. The friends I’ve made. The work I’ve started to do. The experiences I’ve had that’s made that possible – and my parents, who made that possible.

I lost people important to me. Curveball. I missed my train by a few seconds. Curveball. I failed to get that offer I wanted. Curveball. I hated that assignment I had to work on. Curveball.

What are your “curveballs?”

Sometimes they tumble through our life, sometimes they smash through it.

Kevin’s right, though: life is always going to throw them – so how have you learned to hit them?

The possibility of reconnecting anew. Batting up to the plate. Making someone’s day with an unexpected conversation. Swinging forward. Getting into someplace you never knew you’d love. Sending that curveball flying. Discovering appreciation where you never thought you could. Homerun.

Life is unanticipated; so is what you make of what it throws at you.

Where did your curveballs fly? Where did they land you?

“That’s what people love about Bruce Wayne and Batman so much. He didn’t let life break him. He learned how to adapt to life; to deal with the vagaries of fate and to not be a victim of fate, but to learn how to handle it by hitting those curveballs.”

You never know what life is going to throw at you – and you can be ready for whatever comes your way and whatever comes next.

Who knows where the next one will take you?