It's More Than Just A Game, It's A Lifestyle
Start writing a post
Sports

It's More Than Just A Game, It's A Lifestyle

And I wouldn't have it any other way.

1688
It's More Than Just A Game, It's A Lifestyle
Aaron Suozzi

It's just a game. That's what everyone tries to tell you. After you've lost a big game or your team just barely misses post season, all anyone can say to you is "it's just a game". But the thing is, it's so much more than that. It's not just a game.

It's a lifestyle.

The way I live my life everyday is completely influenced by the sport I play. And not just because my daily routine has to fit around my practice schedule. But because my life, and my attitude towards it, has to fit around the way I play the game.

When I'm on the court, I feel at home. Whether I'm in my own gym or if I'm the visitor on the scoreboard that night, I know every inch of that court. I know what I need to do to be successful. I memorize statistics about my opponents and I work to exploit their weaknesses, while playing to my strengths. I know that physical success means starting with mental success first. So when I'm not on the court, that's exact how I live the rest of my life, too.

Humans are creatures of habit. We simply do what we've always done. Playing a competitive sport at a very high level for nearly a decade has made me a creature of habit. When I'm in the gym, I know my only limits will be my own expectations. The only thing I can't do is whatever I decide is out of my reach. And when I'm in the zone, I know that nothing fits into that category.

So when I'm not in the gym or on the court, I can't help but live the rest of my life in similar fashion. Contrary to many old fashioned misconceptions, athletes are known for being great students in the classroom. And that's because school, work, and sports are all rooted in the same two principles. You have to have discipline and you must have drive.

Discipline gets you through all of those early morning practices. It gets you to class on time, and it helps you finish that project at 3am. Having that extra sense of self-control and accountability are two traits that sports don't get enough credit for. I live my life with an added amount of discipline strictly because that's what I've always been taught. Athlete's simple can't make it at this level if they don't have discipline. And that sense of responsibility doesn't leave us when we exit the gym. It's a part of who we are in every aspect of our life.

And if discipline is what gets you through the door, then drive is what gets us through that brick wall. Obstacles are a part of life, everyone knows that. But getting back up after another agonizing injury or a heartbreaking defeat, that takes drive. It takes an appreciation for vulnerability and courage. Because trying again when you've already failed once is about the scariest thing any of us do. Whether you're an athlete or not, accepting defeat is never easy. But that's the great part about sports. Defeat is just a part of the whole beautiful mess.

Athletes have thick skin because they have to. If you can't learn to accept that some days you're just not going to have it, then I promise you aren't going to make it. You have to rely on your preparation and trust in the process. And even then, you will fail. But dealing with failure is a healthy lesson that we all have to learn at some point. And there's a reason why athletes almost always reach that point sooner rather than later.

At the end of the day, playing a high level sport is so much more than what it seems to be. It's not just about who had the best record or who won the trophy. It's about heart. It's about wanting something badly enough that you push through the mental exhaustion, the sleep deprivation, and the physical turmoil to get it. It's about always putting the team before yourself and learning what it's like to really be selfless. And it's about pushing yourself everyday towards a goal that you may never reach. But most importantly, it's about finding the undeniable peace and beauty in the struggle.

So, yes. At the end of my career, they'll say I played the game. But I will always know that it was so much more than that. Volleyball will never be just the sport I played. It will always be the foundation for how I lived my life.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

54043
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less
a man and a woman sitting on the beach in front of the sunset

Whether you met your new love interest online, through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Challah vs. Easter Bread: A Delicious Dilemma

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

34786
loaves of challah and easter bread stacked up aside each other, an abundance of food in baskets
StableDiffusion

Ever since I could remember, it was a treat to receive Easter Bread made by my grandmother. We would only have it once a year and the wait was excruciating. Now that my grandmother has gotten older, she has stopped baking a lot of her recipes that require a lot of hand usage--her traditional Italian baking means no machines. So for the past few years, I have missed enjoying my Easter Bread.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

Unlocking Lake People's Secrets: 15 Must-Knows!

There's no other place you'd rather be in the summer.

957169
Group of joyful friends sitting in a boat
Haley Harvey

The people that spend their summers at the lake are a unique group of people.

Whether you grew up going to the lake, have only recently started going, or have only been once or twice, you know it takes a certain kind of person to be a lake person. To the long-time lake people, the lake holds a special place in your heart, no matter how dirty the water may look.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Top 10 Reasons My School Rocks!

Why I Chose a Small School Over a Big University.

182139
man in black long sleeve shirt and black pants walking on white concrete pathway

I was asked so many times why I wanted to go to a small school when a big university is so much better. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure a big university is great but I absolutely love going to a small school. I know that I miss out on big sporting events and having people actually know where it is. I can't even count how many times I've been asked where it is and I know they won't know so I just say "somewhere in the middle of Wisconsin." But, I get to know most people at my school and I know my professors very well. Not to mention, being able to walk to the other side of campus in 5 minutes at a casual walking pace. I am so happy I made the decision to go to school where I did. I love my school and these are just a few reasons why.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments