We all have life experiences that help to shape the person we eventually become. I would like to share some lessons I learned through my experience as a middle school and high school wrestler. While it is true that I was not the greatest technician in the world, what I lacked in techniques I feel I made up for with heart, guts and tons of hard work. I think it is safe to say that if you have never wrestled, your threshold for physical exertion is just a bit lower than those of us that have had the pleasure. Here are the ten lessons that watchwrestling taught me.
- Wrestling taught me discipline...the discipline to eat, train and live a certain way in order to succeed, even if it wasn't always enjoyable.
- It taught me the importance of sacrifice...sacrificing eating foods I like and going out with friends on Friday night in exchange for running an additional hour or two after a two hour wrestling practice in order to make weight the next day.
- It taught me perseverance...the perseverance to push through extreme physical discomfort and exhaustion.
- Wrestling taught me the importance of commitment...commitment to a team and to myself.
- It taught me that hard work does in fact pay off.
- It taught me that some battles in life can be won with guts and heart.
- Wrestling taught me what the body and mind is truly capable of enduring.
- It taught me how stand up on my own two feet after a personal defeat.
- It taught me that sometimes life is not fair... and I will have to pick up the pieces, suck it up and move on.
- Wrestling taught me that anything worth having in life is worth the fight.
