What would you do for something you love? What is the price you are willing to pay? Those questions are things that we should ask ourselves on a regular basis.
I know you are probably thinking that this is quite a deep subject to discuss but it’s not for the reasons you are thinking.  I’m not making reference to family relationships but what we are willing to sacrifice to do the things that we love.
I have loved sports as long as I can remember and have sacrificed more than a few things for that love through the course of my life.
As a young person I sacrificed much of my time as I dedicated myself to trying to be great at basketball.  I sacrificed time with family and friends.  I sacrificed my writing so that I could be in the basketball classes I was required to be in.
I know you are wondering, what did all that sacrifice get me in return? Well my rewards are not what you might think.  I didn’t find fame and fortune or a pro career.  I didn’t even get a college scholarship or a chance to play at that level.  What I did get was much more valuable to me in the long run.  I was rewarded with the ability to know what it means to dedicate myself to something.  I learned what it meant to put my whole heart into something.  I learned that failure isn’t the worst thing in the world and there are many things to be learned in those situations that are for my benefit.  I learned that pain and injuries can only stop you if you let them.
Now as I look back on some of those wonderful experiences I realized, I sacrificed something much more valuable, which is my health.  I always played through injuries no matter how painful they were at the time.
The worst part is that I still do that to this day.  The reason that I do it is because of the love of the game that was instilled in me a long time ago.
Just yesterday I played in a soccer game for the first time in over six months and am really paying for it now.
My skills haven’t diminished in my time off nor has my passion for the game.  Neither has my intensity or my willingness to do whatever it takes to help my team win.  Now, you are probably thinking that soccer isn’t too hard on a person, but since I’m a keeper playing on turf that’s not the case.  Especially if you dive all over the place like I do.
After playing in that game yesterday I’ve been a mess.  My back, shoulders, neck, knees and ankles have all been killing me, to the point that it has rendered me almost useless.  In fact, the day after I play just about anything I can barely move.  Even just walking up and down stairs is a major struggle.
The odd thing is that it doesn’t stop me from playing the next time I have a game, or even when someone asks me to fill in.  I’ve probably played 20 games in the last month alone.
I know at some point in the near future I won’t be able to do this anymore.  I guess that’s why I take every chance I can get to continue to play, even when my body is screaming at me that it’s not a good idea.
It’s the sacrifice that I have made for what I love.  even though my body regrets it, my head and heart never have.