Missing Competition

The other day I went to watch a friend participate in a tournament.  Watching her "warm up" brought back so many memories. Then watching her actually play, was almost unbearable. Whenever she would make a mistake she would get frustrated, causing her to try harder. By the end of the night she had lost all her games, and she was so upset. In tears. Although I felt bad that she had lost, I envied her. On the way home she complained of her shoulder being sore and I helped her stretch it, and then we put ice on it when we got home. Now to anyone else loosing games and feeling pain in your shoulder doesn't sound ideal. But for me, it sounds amazing! I miss the time when day in and day out I was working towards something. I was pushing myself to be better. It is amazing, our bodies. The way we are able to condition them, and cause our muscles to memorize movements. How is it that one person has found the perfect equation of movement to get the best spin or hit on a ball? Really is it remarkable. And I used to be apart of this. I miss the tears, the sweat, the lingo, the uniforms, and the way it felt. The way it felt in that moment when nothing else mattered. Nothing but that point and this game. There is so much to be learned from competing in athletics. I miss those learning experiences. I miss the game.