If your childhood was anything like mine, you played every sport in the book until you found one or two that you really found a love for. From baseball, to soccer, to bowling; You were involved in your townships recreational leagues.

Personally, these experiences of actually playing are hardly a part of my recollection today, but for the time being they were pretty comical to my parents. Standing in the middle of the soccer field paying more attention to the grasshopper on the ground than the ball, chasing the dragonfly around in the outfield because it was much more exciting than standing attempting to focus on the ball that was never hit to me, and the occasional playing the game like I was supposed to. These were all parts of my introduction to the world of sports experience.

While these experiences were all well and good, there were also the less fortunate experiences, emotions, and excuses including but not limited to:

• Tears
• Not wanting to play anymore
• Disliking my teammates
• Crying
• Frustration with my own ability
• Not wanting to go to practice
• Tears and Crying

Although seemingly unfortunate, experiencing these were crucial to my character development.

I was young and I wanted my way. That's really all there was to it.

However, I had to learn how it was going to be if I wanted to be an quality teammate, leader, or a functioning member of society. It seems a bit extreme, but stay with me because it couldn't be any more true.

Whenever I tried to pull one of my genius excuses with my mom, I got, “Suck it up buttercup”, or something of the sort. Believe it or not, I was less than amused at these sorts of responses and would try my best to explain myself. I would fight, and fight, and fight, but alas, I never would prevail.

But I am forever grateful that I did not.

Certainly I never stuck to baseball or soccer, but that was not the point of that time in my life. The game was giving me my first taste commitment, loyalty, and hard work.

Commitment: I had to do what I said I was going to do for the rest of the season, even if my interest changed now that I was actually playing the game. Despite what I felt, I had to keep my word. I had to do what I said I was going to do.

Loyalty: My teammates were counting on me. If I were to have quit, I would be making a decision that effects a lot more people than just myself. I had to consider how my choices affect others.

Hard Work: I had to show up, I had to try my absolute hardest. If my mom caught me slacking, I knew a long car ride home was ahead of me. I had to show up, shut up, and work.

While this set the basis for my sport filled life that was quickly coming, it also set a basis on how to interact with others and handle situations professionally. If you note the underlined portions, they are by no means exclusive to the world of sports. Holistically, they became my criteria as to how life should be lived day in and day out.

Today, the sport I am in love with is bowling. I have always been passionate about it and loved the game from the moment I first picked up a 6lb. house ball. However, I don’t think the sport I ended up choosing is what mattered, it’s that I ended up in sports, and here’s why:

With a foundation set for a sport mentality, the truly amazing aspect of sports was ready to be discovered: The Experience and Memories. Not the memories that come to mind for the general public, but memories athletes understand and choose to embrace rather than reject.

This list includes, but is not limited to: Voluntarily waking up at 5 A.M. on a Saturday to meet a roll call time before a tournament, or going out to breakfast before an early bird at 6 A.M., or driving 14 hours one way to a tournament for a single weekend, or driving back from Ohio on a Saturday morning to get back to your home in Michigan and turn right around to leave for Chicago the same night to attend a different sports tournament.

While this all sounds a bit ridiculous, it’s the lifestyle athletes all around the world have come to know as a way of life. I can guarantee you every athlete has had a similar experience, and on more than one occasion.

We do it not only for the love of the game, but for the love of others we get to play the game with. I think I speak for everyone when I say, the older you get as an athlete, playing and performing becomes second nature, and the memories you make become the most exciting part about the whole experience. When you’re out there competing, you’re pouring your heart into each shot, each catch, each serve for your team; you’re simply and unapologetically being you. You’re in your element, and the whole team is right behind you. You have all put the work in together, and you're all simply performing. That is where the memories that stick with you forever are created.

You are a part of something bigger than yourself and are blessed with the opportunity to watch everything you ever dreamed of as a little kid become your reality.

The experiences are so surreal. And the best part of it all is that you get to share them with everyone you’ve shared the earliest of mornings, latest of nights, and longest of practices with: your team.

Clearly, sports span far beyond the playing field. From effective collaboration and communication, to learning to silence my emotions and push myself despite discomfort I may have feel in the present moment, to living life with passion pouring out of me with each game I play, the life lessons I've learned and experiences I've been blessed with from being involved with sports are ones that I never could have learned anywhere else. And in the off chance I would have, the memories I have created would not have been present in my life, and for that I am eternally grateful.

If you relate to this article, and understand completely where I am coming from, hear me out. Please don't forget to enjoy the tireless days where sleep seems so far, few, and in-between because one day it will all come to an end. Enjoy the early mornings before a tournament where you're dead tired because you stayed up a little too late the night before, the long drives being complete goofballs with your team, and the weekends of endless playing; cherish it. You will suit up for the last time, throw, hit, serve your last ball at some point. Whenever that may be is different for everyone, but it still comes at some point in the athletes life.

If anything, play for the little kid inside who knew beyond a shadow of a doubt, this was everything you ever wanted and more.