old post: i finally understood

... what being passionate is about.

my bestfriend-roommate joined me in my Slam Dunk marathon. and while watching the final match between Shohoku and Ryonan, i told her that i've never really understood, until that moment, what it's like for a sportsperson - a person dedicated to a particular sport.

i mean, most basketball players get discovered in their late teens - 18, 19 - and they have about 10-20 years of professional basketball career. that is, if they don't become injured or they are not benched most of the time. i can only wonder how a retiring player could feel - or one that became injured and had to stop competing in or performing the sport that they love. some can be coaches or still part of the basketball community - but it must be difficult to change gears - especially if it's an unwanted one. so... thinking about it... i wonder if Michael Jordan ever thought about it that way. Imagine, if he were an overcritical person like me, who analyzed it that way... would he still play ball or would he have considered a different career?

and then i realized... when you're passionate about something, the only thing that matters is that you can do/be part of that thing you're passionate about. who cares if you can only play one game or compete for how many years... as long as you CAN do it... that's really all that matters.

and then when it's time to move on... you'll move on. the memories will always be there - to be cherished. to remember how it once felt to be purely passionate about a goal.

then... it will be another chance to create new memories and new passions.

maybe it's time for me to stop looking forlornly at the past, and wishing that i were still the same person. the past, and its memories, are there for me to remember how it once felt to be so alive... so passionate... so dedicated. to remind me that if i set my mind to something, i can accomplish it without fear of failure.

maybe it's time to set new records... and discover new passions. it's my chance to push my boundaries even further. maybe this time, i will surprise myself with new discoveries of my limits. after all, i can go as far as the limits i set to myself.