Stay Driven

I like this "competitive fire" notion. Indeed, many athletes morph in flab balls in as fast as a few short months after their last throw, dunk or bad mitten thwack. From their point of view, they're done. They're rich and their bodies, once beautifully chiseled temples of man brawn, are neglected and begin to erode because of the now 24-hour binges of drink, tramps, and gambling (Charles Barkley, anyone?). Of course, like you mentioned, this is a sad sight to see: a former monument to fitness die in his or her 50s from a sharp decrease in physical activity and or goal-oriented living and a spike in fried foods and catnaps. That's why I smile when I see former athletes who look trim and fit years after their glory days are over. They know that fitness is a life-long necessity, not just a way to achieve legendary, groupie-inducing status within their respective cultures. Well, they probably welcomed that as a plus as well, I suppose...

This is so helpful and true. When I do my yoga, I get to experience inner peace and witness the strength I forgot I had. When I play tennis, I get to pull out my competitive edge and work on teamwork in doubles, and when I just need to get out of my head, I head for a hike in the mountains to reconvene with our best asset in life: nature.