In the game,
it is all about applying your knowledge
on par with in math or history class,
except this time
on a court, a field, a track.
It’s about the focus, the concentration,
your determination to reach into and remain
in the zone.
It’s about enduring the never-ending pain,
squeezing out every ounce of energy that you possess,
pushing yourself to the absolute limit.
It’s about the struggle that you face,
point by point, game by game, round by round.
Your positive attitude (or lack of it)
determines every passing second.
The main ambition is to come out triumphant.
But at the end of the day
it’s not the outcome that matters.
You may have lost,
you may have won,
but putting all of that aside,
you’ve gained something more valuable:
you’ve learned.
You accept the result,
knowing that you’ve done your utmost.
And you pat yourself on the back
because you never play
at the expense of others.
Even though perhaps your opponent has.
Nevertheless, the fact still stands that
to play with sportsmanship
and lose
gives you more medals, trophies, and awards
than to play without sportsmanship
and win.
Only a true athlete may understand.