I have a bad habit of taking things for granted. However, I’ve learned the lesson the hard way. Playing sports has always been my second nature, something I’m proud to say I’m great at. Whether it’s surfing, tennis or soccer, the passion and drive I have to practice and win goes just beyond limits. But the day that ended, was the very day I realized how vital it was to me. It all started the day I fractured my big toe on my left foot, while playing soccer. I was given an order from the doctor to be at rest from any type of sports for a month. The first week passed, and I it went by fine, because I could play sports virtually with my Playstation 3. However, at the third week, I honestly was just stressed all the time, because something inside of me was missing. It was then when I understood the impact that sports doesn’t only have on me, but on practically everyone.
Having so much time to miss playing sports, has opened up a lot of space to reflect. I’ve realized how being an active athlete is crucial to my health, not only physically, but also emotionally. When I play soccer, I don’t only gain stamina by running across the field and chasing the ball, but I also gain mental quickness. This is absolutely crucial in order to make quick strategies on the field, or to know the weaknesses of my opponents and turn them into my advantage. Soccer has also taught me the value of teamwork. The guys that play soccer with me today have been playing with me since I could remember. Together we hold so many loses, victories and memories that have only made us not only a solid team, but also stronger friends.
The impact that sports have on me clearly goes beyond the soccer field, because many of the skills I’ve earned through sports reflect in my daily life. By competing in so many ADCA tournaments, club matches or friendly games, I’ve not only learned that one doesn’t always win, but to also be humble when you do. Thanks to sports I have a different mentality to whatever I do in life. I’ve realized that there is no such thing as talent if you don’t work hard enough. One can always improve, because there is no such thing as a “fixed skill”. This very principle is the motivation behind every risk I’ve taken in my life. Whenever there is a difficult task, I don’t view it as an obstacle anymore, but rather as a challenge. My objective not only in sports but also in life is to improve and enhance my skills and not chase the trophies. Winning so many trophies through sports have made me understand that the fulfillment of an athlete is not with the trophy, because that only lasts for a while. It is the inner feeling of having trained hard and pushed your limits that will really last forever. And coincidentally, that’s what we fail to understand when we look at life.