Reading through inMaricopa, my town’s semi-regular news magazine, I discovered a hidden football league. Apparently there is a pickup football league every sunday morning only a mile from my home. The league is 10 years old, escaping my notice because it takes place at 7:30 in the morning. I don’t even think that early.
But I will play football.
I’ve been looking for some more pressing reason to get in shape. Football has always gotten me motivated to pop off the couch and put in some work. I plan to get up this sunday and go out for a pick up game. I only know one of the guys who goes out there. I’ve coached his son in the past. I am hoping that brief connection is enough to get me on the field. I need the opportunity to run, to want to run, to have a reason to get in the gym and work a little more.
At some point the dream of getting back in shape enough to put in two more seasons of AZFL died. Maybe it was killed by the reality of 3 kids and a wife in nursing school. With that death followed the immediate growth of my belly to a size bordering on dangerous. Bad choices swarmed in behind that, and over time I stopped believing that there was much I could do about being out of shape and unmotivated. I noticed how that affected my attitude towards life itself. I think about death way more than is healthy and eat so much fast food that I am likely speeding towards that eventual demise. This could be my chance off that emotional roller coaster.
It is important to know who you are and what motivates you. I am motivated by competition. Provided with the opportunity to play football every week, I will work my butt off to make the best of that opportunity. I need this.