The cheer of fans all around you - almost deafening - creates a new world, a world where you are a member of the crowd. Or maybe you are the star quarterback, waiting for everyone to cheer when you do your best plays. Being a member of something often makes us feel complete and whole. We as human beings are social animals; much like merkats would do, we have created a system and a living. There's rules and regulations, whether they are the law or not is a different story; such as manners. Manners aren't a written rule, they are just expected of us.
When I was a child I longed to be part of a group or team. Something that I could hold on to and say "Hey look what I did." Quite honestly, in elementary school I didn't have very many friends. I was always drawing or writing; my true passions. Most of the time I felt distant and alone. My life was never bad, just never complete; so I wouldn't call it depression, just craving for something that would satisfy my want for familiarity.
When I was in fourth grade my parents put me in a karate class. Not exactly what I was looking for, but it was good enough. Each and everyday I entered the room with a smile looking forward to learning new things and seeing my friends that were "cooler" than my school friends. There was one girl in particular that I was very fond of. I could even call her my best friend in that point in time. Whenever she moved, shortly afterwards, I felt like I had no one to turn to. I was very shy in my younger years and waited for other people to talk to me. That's why I thought sports were such a good thing. They had to be friends, right??
In fifth grade my school sponsored a softball team. I joined almost immediately after they handed out the forms to sign up. I joined with my friend Carissa, thinking that she would be my anchor so that I could spread out to meet other people. Anyone who signed up made the team. Everyone on the team had played softball since they were really little, except for me. I felt so alienated and the coach never taught me anything; I never knew what I was doing wrong or how I could improve. Long story short, we lost a lot of our games. After that season of softball I realized that I didn't have to be on a team to feel glorified.
I looked around at my life and I was pretty content. Maybe I didn't have as many friends as I would like. But the ones that I did have would stick with me through thick and thin.
Has anyone ever told you that high school basketball or college football was their glorifying moment? Their chance to shine? You don't have to play a sport to have glory days. Glory days live in your heart and in your memories not in the ball you dribbled or how many touchdowns you made.
Fersuree,
Kindell
