Dear Athlete,

Do not take what you have for granted. You will never have these opportunities again, and before you know it, your career will be over. Sure, after high school you might be fortunate enough to play in college, but what about afterwards? What happens when you simply cannot play any longer?

There is nothing in this world that I have found to be more upsetting than deciding it was time to stop playing a sport I loved. Sports were always something that my family shared a passion for: my mother was a softball player and my father loved to play football with his friends on the weekends. They passed their love of sports on to my brother and me, and they have been at almost every sporting event for the two of us since we both began.

Athletes require drive and determination to function. They would not be able to do what they do without a support system, whether that came from family, friends, or themselves. My brother and I were lucky enough to get that support from our parents. They still support us to this day; my brother is chasing his dream of becoming a Division I athlete, and I’m playing collegiate sports 200 miles away from home. No matter what we’re doing or how far away we are, my parents have always found a way to be there for both of us.

So, what’s going to happen to my family once my brother and I finally hang up our cleats and stop playing the sports we love? I don’t believe anything will change. Sure, we’ll be upset. After all, sports have consumed so much of our time for so much of our lives. We may be confused and disappointed when we’re finished, but our parents will not stop supporting us. In the grand scheme of things, sports were not the only thing that held my family together. The sports we played were just a product of our family’s ties to each other. I guess when I think about it, all the time I’ve spent playing was for my family.

Now back to you, Athlete. What do you play for? The glory of your name being called? The thrill of walking out onto the field in front of a crowd of people? Those heart-stopping moments when you pull off a nearly impossible play? Or do you, too, understand the familial ties that come with playing a sport?

One day, you will have to hang up your cleats. One day, you will have to stop playing, and one day, you will have to move on. When that day comes, you don’t have to stop loving the game. You don’t have to lose your passion for the sport. In fact, your love and passion should become even greater. After all, how lucky are you? You had the opportunity to play a game that you loved, if only for a little while. There is absolutely nothing in this world that is better than that.

So appreciate this time that you had, and be grateful that it happened. Before you know it, your time will be up.

Sincerely yours,

An Athlete With a Ticking Clock