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10 Life Lessons From a Lifetime In Competitive Sports
When competition becomes your life, what do you become?
I grew up on stinky wrestling mats, covered in my own blood and sweat. If I lost, my tears were probably there too.
All of the mannerisms that I’ve adopted since I was around 12 have come from the last 12 years that I’ve spent wrestling and training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. My demeanor is a direct result of my life as an athlete.
My athletic career has made me into the person I am today.
Look Ma — I’m a pro-athlete. I made it, I guess.
I’ve been involved in competitive sports for about 2 decades. It’s literally all I know.
Here are 10 of the most profound lessons I’ve learned during this time.
It’s a bit more than just wins, losses, and the importance of shaking your opponent's hand.
A healthy body and mind are earned, not given.
When I started wrestling in the 8th grade, I was a very depressed, chubby little kid who couldn’t touch his toes or do a pull-up. Now, I’m quite healthy and I have plenty of self-esteem. Some people on the internet who read my writing would say I have too much self-esteem.
