The smell of fall is in the air, school is back in session, and it is once again time for football all across the country. I’ve missed it. Every year when football season comes around, it takes me back to all the memories of growing up. I remember running around for hours in the front yard, with my dad as the quarterback, the trees as defenders, and I was the all-star receiver who always scored a touchdown every time I caught the ball. I can remember what it felt like to put shoulder pads on for the very first time, and I remember the pain that came with taking them off for the last time. I learned a lot in all of the sports I played, but football will always hold a special place in my heart.

Sitting in the stands this year, watching all of the high school kids run around, made me think about how important this sport was to me. I have been extremely grateful for the life lessons that I gained from that experience. So, I decided to share a few of those lessons with you!

1 Passion

If you aren’t excited about what you are doing, no one else will be either. The game of football taught me to put my everything into whatever I do. Whether it be going through drills at practice, making a crucial play in a game, or getting schoolwork done, if you don’t have passion you are just cutting yourself and everyone else around you short. If we truly want to be passionate about something, then it has to show in every aspect. Especially in the small details. Guys like Ray Lewis didn’t just get pumped about the big plays, they remain passionate about everything. It’s all or nothing. That is what makes a champion.

2 It takes work

Unfortunately, we can’t sit around on the couch and suddenly become an MVP. In football, and in everything else we do, in order to be great, we have to work for it. I remember complaining several times about having to get up early on Saturdays to go watch film, or lifting after practice, or having to run extra sprints for conditioning. Looking back at it now, I am grateful, and I realize that is what it takes to succeed. Entering into the real, adult world, I see all the time that people aren’t just going to hand me jobs or high esteemed positions. I have to put in extra time, and hard work to earn my way. I am thankful for the work ethic that I learned from all those long days of practice on the football field.

3 Team is everything

This is probably one of the most important life lessons for me. On the field, it is impossible for one guy to do it all. Everyone has to be on the same page, working together towards a common goal. We all need others around us to pick us up when we are down, or push us just a little further when we want to stop and become complacent. My first couple years of college, I didn’t have my “team” surrounding me all of the time. I attempted to live this life all by myself. After struggling through all of that, I finally got a few people around me who would encourage me and it was like a huge burden lifted from my shoulders. I realized that I didn’t have to fight through life by myself. Even more than that, I got to return the favor and be part of someone else’s team and cheer them on. There was a reason that God said in Genesis that it is not good for man to be alone. Find a team, and hang on to them!

4 There will be bad days

I wish this wasn’t the truth, but life isn’t always going to go our way. I remember so many practices that it seemed like nothing could work. No matter how many times we went over it all. There were even a few games that we should have won extremely easy, but it just didn’t turn out that way. It happens sometimes. Thankfully, I learned from it and know how to handle it now. Just because we have bad days, doesn’t give us an excuse to quit. If we fight through the struggles, who knows the great rewards we may find on the other side. Never give in!

5 Humility

Many times I have had to apologize for my big mouth. I allow myself to get comfortable, and I believe I know all there is to know, and then proceed to make a fool of myself. In the game of football I learned several lessons along the lines of humility. One was that it’s not all about me. The game is about something much greater than just one person. It’s about a team coming together and fighting for each other. Life is the same way. It is much more satisfying to live for others and realize that it’s not all about just us.

The second part of humility is that there will always be someone that we can learn from. While I was playing, sometimes I couldn’t see the whole picture and really needed some advice. If we allow ourselves to listen to our teammates and coaches, we might get that touchdown a whole lot easier and probably a lot quicker. We can take this lesson and translate it into everyday life by taking time to listen to our peers, or family, or bosses, and most importantly God.

I believe the saying “you never know what you got ‘til it’s gone” remains true. In the midst of my football career, I had no idea the value of the life lessons that I received. I want to encourage you to stop, be thankful for whatever it is you are doing, and look for those lessons that you can take from it all. Beyond that, don’t be afraid to share with someone around you! It could be a great opportunity to help that person out, and even be part of their team.