This article applies to anyone with a sport that was once dear to their heart. There are three types of people who miss their sports: the "regreters," the "deniers" and the "nostalgics". Anyone who has every quit or left a sport or activity they once were involved in can fall into one of these three categories.
The "regreters" are the people who are committed to a sport for at least eight to ten years before they decide on their own they want to quit due to time or the inability to realize how much they love the sport. They soon regret the decision because it was their only outlet against drama and stress. All of the years these people have spent in their sport are thrown away only to realize they actually built something they were good at. The only problem was, they couldn't see it until it was over.
The "deniers" are the people who quit their sport because they don't feel like it is a productive use to their time. Some people could argue the "deniers" are similar to the "regreters," but the one thing the "deniers" have over the "regreters" is the fact they look at the cons in the moment and make a rash decision only to later blame a bad mood or stressful day on other things besides their own decision to quit. They are in eternal denial about why they are upset, and when it comes down to it, they miss their old sport.
Last but not least, the "nostalgics". These people have to quit their favorite high school sport or activity due to time constraints in college or for financial reasons. These people do not want to quit their sport because they are attached to it and feel how much of an outlet and stress relief it can be. They are consistently remembering "the good 'ol days" and bring up moments when they peaked in that sport at any given opportunity.
If you regret your decision, are in denial, or are just extremely nostalgic, there is a category for your life after your old favorite sport has left you. You can take the person out of the sport, but you can't take the sport out of the person.
