My Take on Playing Sports Just for Fun
Okay, so I wanted to share something about how I approach sports these days. The title I had in mind was something like “sports based only for love,” and that’s really what it boils down to for me now.
It started pretty simple. I just felt like I needed to move more, you know? Sitting around wasn’t cutting it. I didn’t aim for leagues or anything serious. I just grabbed a ball – think it was an old basketball – and went to a nearby park. First few times, I just practiced dribbling. Felt kinda clumsy, ball going everywhere. But it was just me, the pavement, and the sound of the ball bouncing. Pretty calming, actually.
Then I started shooting hoops. Mostly missing, obviously. Clank, clank, clank. But every now and then, swoosh. That felt good. I wasn’t keeping score against anyone, just enjoying the simple act of throwing the ball and sometimes getting it in. I’d go maybe a couple of times a week, whenever I felt like it. No pressure, no schedule.
Eventually, other folks would be at the court. Sometimes we’d start a pickup game. Real casual stuff. No proper teams, just shirts vs. skins maybe. We’d run around, pass (sometimes badly), shoot (mostly missing), and laugh a lot. That’s when I really felt the community thing kicking in. It wasn’t about being the best player; it was just about sharing that space and having a good time together.
- Running up and down the court.
- Trying a fancy move and failing spectacularly.
- Getting a high-five after a lucky shot.
- Just chatting about random stuff between plays.
I gotta admit, there were times when games got a bit too intense. Some guys took it way too seriously, arguing calls, getting frustrated. That kinda sucked the fun out of it for me. I noticed I started feeling a bit anxious before going, wondering if it would be fun or just stressful. That feeling, like, why am I even doing this if it makes me tense?
So, I consciously made a change. I started avoiding those super competitive games. If a game felt like it was heading that way, I’d just bow out and shoot hoops on my own, or maybe just watch. I reminded myself why I started: just to move, feel good, and enjoy the moment. It had to be about the love of doing it, not winning or proving anything.
Now? I still play sometimes. Maybe basketball, maybe kicking a soccer ball around with friends, sometimes even just going for a long walk or a bike ride counts in my book. The key is the mindset. I show up wanting to enjoy the activity itself. If I learn something new or get better, great. If not, that’s fine too. The main goal is just to connect with the activity, maybe with some other people, and leave feeling better than when I started.
It’s really about finding that simple joy again. Like when I first started, just bouncing the ball. It’s not about stats or trophies. It’s just playing, moving, maybe sweating a bit, and doing it purely because, well, I love it.
