Growing up, we didn’t have a choice in our involvement in the athletics; my mom enforced our commitment to both the team and individual sports. Looking back, I couldn’t be more thankful for all that being an athlete gave me. They say that time goes by fast and to enjoy it while it lasts, however, you don’t truly understand the value of that statement until you hang up your shoes for good.
Here are a few things I’ve reflected on in my life after being an athlete.
You can still sense it, even when you don’t play anymore.
You can still sense the feeling of getting up at 5 AM to reach early morning practice. You remember seeing your sleepy-eyed teammates silently getting ready when you would walk into the gym. That feeling of your mind forgetting the stress and worries of the long school day would dwindle into the noises of your shoes squeaking and the sound of the contact of the ball hitting the back rim. Once you hit the dirt, everything else that was present in your life didn’t matter anymore. You still cherish the lifelong friendships with the girls you spent days, weekends and months with. Your teammates who saw you susceptible after having both a bad game, and on a high after one of your best, became your closest friends. You’re taught discipline through the time you spend practicing in your free time with your siblings and playing all summer long with your travel team.
And then one day, it’s all over.
You lose a part of yourself when you’re no longer an athlete.
After 16 years of being involved in competitive sports, I decided not to play any of them during my first year of university. After some reflection, I realized that I missed it dearly and not playing wasn’t an option anymore. I forgot what it felt like to be competitive and to be a part of something that is bigger than myself. I missed putting in my best effort into the minutes that I was on the court, not just for my own pride, but more so for the ten other girls on my team. It has been three years since I played my last game of ball and there is not a day that goes by where I don’t miss it. The thing is, I didn’t play because I wanted to reach the next level, but because it would guide me in becoming the person I want to be. It was an escape; a time that was just for me, where I could focus on nothing but the next play.
Remember, it really is just a game.
Looking back, all I can advise anyone is to make as many memories as you can and to enjoy every second, because those seconds turn into minutes, which lead to quarters, innings, halves, and finally the end of the game. As much as I miss playing an organized sport, and even if I no longer play, I am thankful for everything it taught me. It taught me how to be a good friend, respect others around me, and to push myself to discover what I was capable of.
When you leave sports behind, you have to find your inner athlete in other aspects of your lives. You can utilize the invaluable lessons you learned from playing in various ways: Use your drive and competitiveness to chase after your career and life goals. Keep up your motivation to wake up early in the morning and embrace each day with a happy spirit. You know you aren’t always going to win, so simply move on. Embrace the friendships you have and maintain the skills of developing strong relationships in the future. Be passionate in all that you do, whether that is continuing to compete, your academics, your partner or your family. Do everything with a purpose. Manage your time wisely and don’t be late. Remember that when the going gets tough, the tough get going. Stay optimistic and play hard right until the end of the game, the day, the course, whatever it may be.
But most importantly, have fun and embrace the beautiful life we have been given.