Motivation to Play Sports After High School Glory Days
Posted 09-14-2016 at 11:58 AM by ColaClemsonFan11
When your a high school or college athlete, you are playing for something that matters to you. Whether or not it matters to you in 20 years, 10 years or not is irrelevant because in that moment, its important in the world you live in and those you are surrounded by.
Essentially, that motivation to be active was sucked out of me when I realized that I have nothing to play for if you will. I will never be able to perceive any sport with such passion as I did when I was playing in high school. Sure, I've played adult league hockey a time or two, but I have so much less fun and interest in it because there is nothing on the line. I flashback to our state championship game junior year where we took the defending champs (and rival high school) down to the wire. Stands were packed, people were cheering and it was just on. We actually ended up loosing that game, and though we were upset, I can take the loss because of being such a part of that moment leading up to the loss. That is what motivated me, that is what made sports fun. Those big games with everything on the line.
Ever since I moved on from high school, the hard thing was not letting go of the glory days, actually my college days as a non-athlete I enjoyed far more being highly involved on campus, in a fraternity, etc. Yet my problem, through college and especially now as a 28 year old post grad, has been finding any interest or motivation to get back into an active lifestyle. I have not been to the gym in a year, and declined every invitation from my super-active friends to join them when they run marathons and 5ks. I know that I could train for it and get in shape to run with them (as right now I am certainly not in shape to do so) but to me, I can't find any motivation to train because its not something that is larger than myself and i'm not playing for my school, city, college, state, or country (unless this is the US Olympic Team and thats not happening).
Same thing can be said for rec league sports for me. As much as I have loved hockey growing up, adult league hockey, where you're playing for nothing more than a few beers at a bar after the game, just isn't the same. I totally loose passion or interest to play in contrast to the high school championship game.
Playing (or training) for something that matters at least in the world you live in, is what made sports fun for me. In high school, I was playing for my high school. In pee wee I was playing for my city. As an adult, you are doing no sport for anyone but yourself unless you are a pro athlete or good enough to be an Olympian and as someone who is not, sports have lost their appeal to me (as far as playing, still love sports and watching).
I wish I did not look at sports this way and maybe one day, an alternate source of motivation may be found but until then, cheers to the folks that can enjoy sports still.
Essentially, that motivation to be active was sucked out of me when I realized that I have nothing to play for if you will. I will never be able to perceive any sport with such passion as I did when I was playing in high school. Sure, I've played adult league hockey a time or two, but I have so much less fun and interest in it because there is nothing on the line. I flashback to our state championship game junior year where we took the defending champs (and rival high school) down to the wire. Stands were packed, people were cheering and it was just on. We actually ended up loosing that game, and though we were upset, I can take the loss because of being such a part of that moment leading up to the loss. That is what motivated me, that is what made sports fun. Those big games with everything on the line.
Ever since I moved on from high school, the hard thing was not letting go of the glory days, actually my college days as a non-athlete I enjoyed far more being highly involved on campus, in a fraternity, etc. Yet my problem, through college and especially now as a 28 year old post grad, has been finding any interest or motivation to get back into an active lifestyle. I have not been to the gym in a year, and declined every invitation from my super-active friends to join them when they run marathons and 5ks. I know that I could train for it and get in shape to run with them (as right now I am certainly not in shape to do so) but to me, I can't find any motivation to train because its not something that is larger than myself and i'm not playing for my school, city, college, state, or country (unless this is the US Olympic Team and thats not happening).
Same thing can be said for rec league sports for me. As much as I have loved hockey growing up, adult league hockey, where you're playing for nothing more than a few beers at a bar after the game, just isn't the same. I totally loose passion or interest to play in contrast to the high school championship game.
Playing (or training) for something that matters at least in the world you live in, is what made sports fun for me. In high school, I was playing for my high school. In pee wee I was playing for my city. As an adult, you are doing no sport for anyone but yourself unless you are a pro athlete or good enough to be an Olympian and as someone who is not, sports have lost their appeal to me (as far as playing, still love sports and watching).
I wish I did not look at sports this way and maybe one day, an alternate source of motivation may be found but until then, cheers to the folks that can enjoy sports still.
Total Comments 0
