No matter what level of athlete you are, there is no such thing as "time off." We will never understand what it's like to have more than one or two days off, let alone a week. Yes, having classes off helps, but that means our coaches can spend double the amount of time killing us at practice. The cast of New Girl accurately describes our thoughts and emotions during the holiday season.
Showing up to your old club team and realizing how old you are because you don't know any of the people on the team anymore.
Coming home from practice and complaining to your family about how awful practice was.
Attempting to get ready for the family events you have to go to after practice.
Realizing that you still have an entire week of practices ahead of you.
When your coach announces you have doubles on Saturday.
After your coach tells you that practice is going to be easy and it's not.
Attending family parties only for the food.
Finally completing your holiday "break" training and thinking you can now rule the world.
The holiday season is a wonderful time of the year for most, but for athletes it is a time to contemplate why you are in a sport in the first place. It's about to be a rough couple of weeks, but we can do it!