Love the game
I love to compete. We concluded our coed volleyball season last weekend and I’m already counting down until I can play again. We didn’t finish the playoffs where we know we could have, which only makes me want to play more.
Playing makes me reflect on all the great memories and skills I’ve developed from competing in sports and other activities over the years. I grew up a multi-sport athlete. After college I started competing in 5ks, 10ks, half marathons, one full marathon, relay-races, triathlons, and a half ironman (1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike, 13.1 mile run… I’m tired thinking about it). I switched to cross-training and weight lifting the last couple of years, which is a completely different and wonderful way to compete against myself.
Los Angeles marathon
I encourage all students to take part in sports of any kind, and argue that it is still incredibly beneficial as an adult. Competing is more than winning trophies and medals. It is about striving to become the best version of yourself. Competition teaches you how to operate under pressure and control your emotions. It is a test of your physical and mental strength. You realize that you can accomplish more than you once believed.
Expect positive impacts to your physical and emotional well-being. Being an athlete helped me develop communication, organization, and leadership skills. I know how to take risks, problem solve, and set goals. I’ve gained confidence and self-esteem.
It also provides a great opportunity to meet people and make life-long friendships.
For me, nothing beats team sports. Volleyball is at the top of my list. Team sports represents the collection of passion, skill, chemistry, and camaraderie, and is simply a group of individuals collectively striving to achieve the same goal. It doesn’t matter which team has the best player, but instead how the team performs synergistically. When the team succeeds, we all succeed.
I would be remiss if I didn’t say thank you to my coaches. Each of them has created a life-long impact that stretches far beyond the field, court, or track. They are leaders who taught me discipline, persistence, commitment, teamwork, accountability, and trust. These skills serve me well as a spouse, parent, professional, and friend.
I get some of my competitiveness from my parents. I grew up watching my dad play pick-up basketball. My parents played slow pitch softball and pond hockey with us well into their 50s. Now they primarily play pickleball. They will never give it up and I know I will be the same.
My dad used to race my brother and me in a one-mile trail run. It includes a quarter-mile steep, uphill climb. My lungs burned at the end of the mile but I don’t think I ever beat him.
I made my brother and sister pepper the volleyball with me. My sister made me play tennis with her (until she became too good for me). I rebounded shots for my brother. You can imagine that even our board games are a fun competition.
Sports competition of any kind (individual or team) matters because it can change lives. For all these reasons we will encourage our own kids to compete, no matter which sport it may be. Right now they are in gymnastics and are looking forward to another session of swimming lessons.
I’ll end with a poem one of my best friends gave me years ago and it still rings true today. Here’s why I love the game.
“Love the game. Love the game for the pure joy of accomplishment. Love the game for everything it can teach you about yourself. Love the game for the feeling of belonging to a group endeavoring to do its best. Love the game for being involved in a team whose members can’t wait to see you do your best. Love the game for the challenge of working harder than you ever have at something; and then harder than that. Love the the game because it takes all team members to give it life. Love the game because at its best, the game tradition will include your contributions. Love the game because you belong to a long line of fine athletes who have loved it. It is now your legacy. Love the game so much that you will pass on your love of the game to another athlete who has seen your dedication, your work, your challenges, your triumphs… and then that athlete will, because of you, love the game.”
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Earth Day half marathon
