When you ask someone what an athlete is, most people will think of a professional athlete first. It could be Sidney Crosby, Kobe Bryant, Terrell Owens or Tessa Virtue. My point is that no matter who a person thinks of, there are going to be similar characteristics among all of them. Someone may use words like: skilled, strategic, hard working, driven, strong, and passionate. But why doesn’t everyone exhibit these characteristics in their everyday life? I know I still don’t. Hmmm….
According to www.merriam-webster.com an athlete is, “a person who is trained or skilled in exercises, sports, or games requiring physical strength, agility, or stamina.”
When I use the word ‘athlete’, I am not just talking about a professional athlete that makes millions of dollars per year for shooting a puck or basketball, or for being able to run quickly or jump high in the Olympics. I am talking first about an attitude and mindset towards life and applying the characteristics of any athlete to every part of your life.
To me an important part is not doing anything half assed. A wise man once said that if something is worth doing, it’s worth doing right. This can be applied to virtually every aspect of our lives. If you’re going to go to the gym, then go with a purpose and train hard. If you’re at work, then be the best worker. I’m not saying go into work all intense yelling and slapping co-workers in the head or ass and trying to get them all riled up like it’s a football playoff game.
Now that being said, use your head and be smart. Now I know ahead of time that not everyone can do this. I mean, look around at the world. Many people don’t think rationally and logically; they don’t do what makes sense and forget the hype. Whether it’s eating dinner and choosing chicken and broccoli (one of my favorite dishes) over a greasy burger meal at the local drive through, or pumping off pull ups and push ups instead of bicep curls and kick backs. There is a reason for both of those and they just make sense.
I think we should add to that definition and say something along the lines of: “an athlete is a person who is trained or skilled in exercises, sports, games and his or her daily activities by acquiring and/or increasing physical and mental strength, awareness, strategy, stamina, speed, coordination, and flexibility so that it improves everyday quality of life.”
What do you think???