Appreciate the days you have on the court or on the field. Appreciate that one coach who constantly yells at you when you make the littlest mistake, that coach is only trying to make you better. Appreciate that one teammate that always tries to teach you how to properly do a drill, that teammate is only trying to get the best out of you.

Appreciate those two-hour bus rides. Appreciate your teammates, because they’re the greatest group of people you will ever have in your life. Appreciate the sound of dribbling a basketball, hitting a baseball or running down the football field. Whatever it is you do, appreciate the feeling of being there; appreciate the moment.

Live in the moments of your games and your practices. Smile when you’re at practice at eight in the morning and laugh when you’re at practice until eight at night. Scream when you feel like your legs are going to fall off after doing 10 suicides without any breaks, but then push yourself to go even harder. Cheer on your teammates when you see they’re beginning to get weak. Strive to make all your shots, strive to hit all the pitches, strive to make those catches. Whatever it is you do, appreciate the feeling of being there, appreciate the moment.

Have fun teasing the freshmen, but don’t underestimate their abilities. Bond with your teammates, bond with your coaches. Plan hangout days with your team, I guarantee it will make you grow closer. Laugh, make jokes, but know when it’s time to be serious. Become best friends with your team, including your coaches, I guarantee, you won’t ever regret it. Love your teammates, love yourself, love the game. Whatever it is you do, appreciate the feeling of being there, appreciate the moment.

Not playing the game is the most depressing thing to experience. Even though being an athlete doesn’t last a lifetime, the memories do. The memory of your first three-pointer, the memory of your first home run, the memory of your first touchdown, it all lives on within you. Relive those moments. Remember your teammates, remember your coaches, they are one of the most influential people in your life.

Never take the game for granted, the game would never do that to you.