8.23.2004

...so I played,

and it was amazing. Somehow in the last five years I had forgotten the pure joy of playing soccer. Just giving yourself over to playing. The second you stop thinking and start doing. Soccer has to be one of the most Zen of all sports, forcing you to constantly be "in the moment".

My body slicked with sweat, legs pumping, moving the ball down the field. A wall of defenders hurtling towards me.
"Break through! Break through!'
I kick the ball towards one of the few openings I see and jump, jump, jump, over the tangle of legs, landing with just enough time to pass the ball before the defenders are on me, over me, past me, onto the ball again.
"Good job!"
Yelled in passing, a pat on the back, and were off, chasing, seeking, looking, doing.