Finding Purpose in Soccer
My latest blog post on http://www.soccerswink.com – Wanted to share it here too.
Have you ever wondered what your last soccer season will look like? What it will feel like to lace up your boots for the last time? To hear the final whistle blow? I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately. After playing competitive soccer for the past 17 years, my senior soccer season is just around the corner. It’s hitting me that I have less than 25 competitive soccer games left to play. To some, 25 games may sound like a lot, but when I remember that I have played over 1,000 games in my life, I know these last 25 games will fly by. As I think about the end, I have been reflecting on how this game has prepared me for life and how it has made me a better person. If you still have years left to play this beautiful game, take time to evaluate whether or not soccer has transformed you for the better or worse. If you are unhappy with your findings, commit to making a change. There is still plenty of time!
1. Be Intentional in Everything
The most important lesson I have learned from soccer is to be intentional in everything I do. Whether it’s something soccer related (practice, off-season training, etc.) or school or even my relationships with my teammates, I have learned to pay attention to the details. I have learned the importance of getting things right (no matter how small) the first time. There’s a famous Ghandi quote that says “Be the change you want to see in the world.” To me, this means that if you unhappy with something in your life, it’s your job to fix it. ”Fixing it” requires discipline, hard work, and intentionality. I have found that I have reaped the greatest rewards from being intentional with my relationships with my teammates. When I am intentional about spending time with them outside of soccer, my relationships with them are able to go so much deeper, and in the end, we are both incredibly blessed.
2. Value People
People matter. All of them. I have had the privilege of getting to know many, many people throughout my time playing soccer. Some of them have become my best friends, some have become life-long mentors, some have inspired me and some have screwed me over, hurt me, and put me down. But you know what? I have learned to value every single one of those people. I obviously value the people who have been a friend to me, mentored me, and inspired me. That’s easy. Valuing the people who have screwed me over, hurt me, and put me down is a lot harder. It’s taken years to get to the point where I can recognize how much those people have changed me for the better. Those people have taught me to persevere through adversity. They have shown me exactly what I don’t want to be. They’ve shown me the ugliness of selfishness and arrogance. My relationships with these people have also allowed me to appreciate the people around me who are genuine, encouraging, and selfless. I wouldn’t be who I am today without the people who are easy to love or the ones who would be easy to hate.
3. Finding Purpose
“The only thing worse than running is not having anything to run for.” — Scott Frey, Messiah Head Coach. These words really hit the nail on the head for me. What’s the point of playing soccer? Why have I dedicated so much time to something that I am only able to play competitively for 18 years of my life? I did not have an answer to this question until I started playing at Grove City College three years ago. I think everyone who plays soccer is playing for some kind of purpose. For me, soccer has taught me to use my gifts for God’s glory. Playing for this higher purpose has caused me to prioritize sportsmanship, character development, work ethic, and team over individual. This is something that both the Messiah College and Grove City College soccer programs have at the very core of their team missions. And this purpose can be applied to a lot more than soccer. This game has taught me more than just how to be an excellent athlete, it has prepared me to excel at life.
Well, these are my thoughts on how soccer has changed my life
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