Sport participation is incredibly valuable for a myriad of reasons, but one of perhaps the most important ones is that it cultivates team-oriented people. And by God, we could use some more team-oriented people right now.
This core belief — that the will and welfare of the team is greater than that of any one individual— is constantly conditioned in athletes. Over and over and over we’re told that whatever comes our way — good, bad, or ugly — we stick together, we go together, and we win together.
Why is this belief hammered into athletes’ brains? Well, selflessness and team-first posture is built into the very fabric of sport. Athletes understand what happens when everyone tries to go their own way or do whatever they want to do, especially when it’s at the expense of others around them. It’s chaos. And you lose. A lot.
I can’t help but feel that this sentiment is incredibly relevant now, given the global pandemic.
Some of this really sucks. Our lives have been turned upside down, and we have no idea when some sense of “normal” will return. But everyone’s suffering. Everyone. And while it’s often easier to turn inward, when you feel discomfort, uncertainty or pain, I’d encourage us all to be bigger and be better… and be good teammates. Because the truth is — no one likes to play with selfish players, ball hogs, or people who are just out for themselves. They don’t make good teammates, and they often don’t make good athletes in general. (Or spouses, teachers, parents, neighbors, you name it).
LIFE IS A TEAM SPORT.
So it’s my hope and prayer that more people, especially Americans, start to see that we’re all in this together. And for the record: this global pandemic is not the only way in which our collective fate and well-being are tied together. Realizing this, I believe we should do our best to see ourselves on the same side… the same team. It just feels like an ridiculously stupid use of energy and resources to insist on battling both our fellow men and women, as well as a global pandemic.
So let’s be team players.
Because this will end. The pandemic WILL END. And when it does, I believe we can be better, stronger, and more unified because of it. But getting to the other side of this thing as unscathed and scar-free as possible is going to require that we do a bit to help each other out. That we pick each other up. That we endure some small inconveniences individually, for the sake and good and health and safety of the greater team.
Everyone has a role to play. Everyone can and must do their part, and that can look like a lot of different things. So do what you can where you can. That’s what good teammates do, and that’s what good people do too.
Team over everything,
LC
Kommentare