What Sports teach us about Life

It’s the final game of the Championships and you’re down a goal in the last minute of play. Typical scenario right? We’ve all seen this before and we all know that somehow the “good” team will persevere and beat the odds, winning in the last seconds to take home the trophy – but what if that isn’t the way it goes? What if the other team holds onto their lead and wins. That means you get no big trophy, no confetti, and no bragging rights. Doesn’t seem fair does it?

Unfortunately, the lives we lead are filled with day-to-day disappointments. We can’t please everyone and we certainly can’t win it all, but instead of asking why not, or sitting there feeling sorry for yourself, take the opportunity to ask what you CAN do. People are excellent at finding the hard, negative reality in everything, but even better at overlooking the fact that each loss is an opportunity for self-improvement on a deeper, more personal level. Sports are an outlet for learning, and one which offers, to some, the chance to start over, to become what they want to be no matter their surroundings or past. We, as humans, spend too much time dwelling over what we’ve missed, lost, changed, or overlooked, and not enough time appreciating life for what it’s worth.

If you’ve ever lost a loved one, loved a lost one, or felt the weight of the world on your shoulders, than you understand the influence of sport. It goes far beyond the physical strength needed to complete a motion, the discipline of following a routine, and the mental preparation involved in success – the true meaning of sport surpasses all of the aforementioned reasons, never once looking back.

When we are hurt we find treatment, when we are hungry we find food, and when we are sad we find comfort, but in what way do we find these things. When someone wants something badly enough he/she will fight every demon to get it, will be willing to sacrifice, and willing to give body, mind, and soul to the fight. What I am trying to say is that when things look down you have to know to look up. If there is a goal in mind there is plan in there too, and each one of us has the ability to look onward, move forward, and to ultimately, succeed. Success however, is overrated. We judge success by a price tag, and appearance, but that’s merely the scratch on a surface, which extends much deeper than we may at first see.

Success should not be judged, but rather, appreciated, by the time, effort, determination, and sincere drive to achieve what one believed he/she was capable of achieving. Sometimes it just takes a little realization to kick us into high gear, and sometimes it takes getting hit in the face with the ball a few times before we realize we’re playing the game.