The pitch melts everything away

Some people don't understand how much athletes love their sport. It's incredible how a simple game of football, cricket, or rugby, can completely change the entire mood of a day. You can have a really crap day, maybe work sucked, but as soon as you get on the pitch all that matters is the game.

One of the best feelings is starting a new season. You come back, maybe a little bit unfit, hungering to go bigger. You show up for first training session and all those endorphins come flooding back in. You don't even have to be insanely good at the game, there is just something so enjoyable about getting on the pitch and playing the beautiful game.

In a very real way, athletes, even just your average Sunday league ones, live for their sport. They play during the year, they watch and support their team, they play fantasy league, they may even place bets. One simple game is able to melt away worries, unite people of different backgrounds together, in a display of pace, technicality, teamwork, and flair.

We come to the pitch, and everything else is laid aside. No one is concerned about their day to day life, it's all eyes on the game. The drive to grow, and get better is a strange sensation. Even those with no interest in making it professionally have it, but it keeps you coming back. When you've played for years you end up have numerous memories, that you randomly remember time after time. A goal you scored, a brilliant pass, a game winning block/tackle, maybe just a specific tackle on some annoying winger. Memories that likely only you remember, that you will cherish forever. And every year we come back to the pitch, hoping to make some more.