Maybe some day I will stop being naive enough to believe that most people look for the good in others before the bad and are more concerned with bettering themselves and their personal relationships than with judging or meddling in the lives and relationships of others…on that day, I will not be shocked or hurt by days like today.
One of the biggest differences between solo and team sports is the attention to self vs. interpersonal cause and effect. When running, it is easy to focus on yourself and to see yourself (physically, at least) as you truly are. It’s like a physical form of meditation, where the only outside influence is your immediate environment. You can watch others run or even join them on the same trail, but it never has any real impact on your own ability to complete the task. Getting to know yourself, whether physically, emotionally, spiritually, or mentally, is a powerful thing that is a lifelong practice. Team sports more closely resemble the “rest of life.” Every person on the field matters, although some seem to matter more than others. While the game is in play, it’s hard to focus on yourself because you’re not in control of anyone else and they all impact you. You make predictions about how people will react to your action, your plans are spoiled, you get lucky, the other team scores and you blame yourself or someone else for not playing well enough. Often, those who are most vocal about their disappointment in others are really feeling the most blame themselves. Sometimes, we get so caught up in the interaction that we forget to focus on our own ability to run, dribble, and pass. Team sports also give us a sense of family, shared responsibility, and safety when we’re having an “off” day.
Even if you’ve never joined a team on a field or crossed the finish line at a race, you’re involved every day in the solo and team sports of life. For the sake of everyone on the team in this world community, please take time for both and try to focus more on where your footsteps take you than on how someone else kicks the ball.
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