The Mindful Athlete

Being a part of a team is one of the greatest honors anyone can be apart of. Whether its club for a small school or division one for Duke, being a part of a team is special. However, it is not just simply enough to go out an play with your friends. Effort is key. Your team must not simply go play, but they must go play with a purpose. This is a message that can translate on and off the field. Do not simply do something just to do it, do it to be the best! If you can inspire each one of your teammates to apply maximum effort to everything they do, success will be eminent. So yes, go have fun playing the sports you love with the people you love. But remember it all means nothing if you're not striving for greatness together, as a team, and that requires maximum effort from everyone. Effort is the most crucial component to success on and off the field because it something you as an individual have complete control over. Only YOU can control how hard you work, which ultimately dete...

Of course, everyone likes to win. As the season goes on, you get tired and sometimes feel like you need a break from your teammates. It is easy to get frustrated when your team isn't doing well, but on the other hand winning can create something you never knew existing. Lately, my team has been rolling. We are on a win streak and just beat a ranked team. Part of this is the confidence we have in one another but more importantly, the bond we share. My team in high school and growing up was always close but not in the way my team here at Stevenson is. I share a relationship with these 30 girls that I never thought I would have. A year ago I would never have thought this is how my sophomore year would be. I strongly believe that the bond I share with my teammates has made us do something great and made us play the way we have been playing. The point I am trying to make is so; if your team is having trouble, focus on the bond that exists between your teammates. Having a strong relation...

Being part of a team has been one of the greatest experiences of my life and I'm sure you can say the same thing! The concept of working together for a common goal, putting the organization above yourself and doing whatever is necessary to win is something that drives only the fiercest competitors. That being said, not everyone can be on that field or court at once. Sitting on the bunch is something every athlete has dealt with and had to overcome. Sitting on the bench feeling helpless as your team gets scored on or unimportant when your team does score can often deter athletes from the sport they love. It is brutal, a feeling I wish I never experienced yet have felt countless times. Sitting out defeats you and makes you want to quit, yet you cannot. Your teammates need you and you need them! No one gets better without practice, and even though you may not start in the games you make every starter better by giving your best effort every day against them in practice. Remember ...