Life After Ultimate

Recently I have rediscovered the things i did before i played ultimate. i know, i know-- those things have still been around, so it's my fault that i had forgotten what those were. But in my defense, ultimate is a very soul sucking sport, because i love to play, it is the only thing I've ever been particularly good at, and the people are amazing, and the traveling, and the tournaments... the list goes on and on, and you kinda get the idea. I love the game, more than I've ever really loved anything or so I thought.

About two weeks ago i got to go and be a counselor for a middle school trip for the church i grew up in. It was AMAZING! first, i got to go and spend seven days in the woods with no drama, no email, and no telephone (unless i wanted it that is). I got to hang with 30 11, 12, and 13 year olds and watch them go through do some amazing activities that i did when i was their age (yes, i am old and I've dealt with that) and they are also some awesome kids, or at least most of them were. I also got to do some of my favorite things that i haven't done in years: rappelling, ropes course, rafting, hiking, kayaking, even mountain biking (still scary). I also got to hang out with some amazing other counselor/adult type people. three of them have known me since i was a kid and we grew up together, but i also met some people who totally get me, even though we area all totally different, and they don't know anything about my life here which i really important to me.

so i guess what I'm saying is that while on this trip i realized many things about my life:
1. I do still believe in God, I'm just not a church person currently.
Those two things are not mutually exclusive, and I had forgotten that, so it was nice to be reminded in a setting that was OK with that, and people who understand that concept.

2. I have other things (and people) in my life that are just as fun and important to me as ultimate!
I KNOW! it is true-- i like other things besides ultimate! I realized this while kayaking, and camping. I love being outside in nature, and before i started playing ultimate so much, I did kayak a little-- even though i wasn't very good at it and too scared to try anything terribly exciting-- but still. and the fact is i need to do these things, just to be rounded in my life and how i feel. I mean honestly, as dorky as it sounds, when i get away to the mountains, i am a much happier person. Also I need to remember that there are other people in my life, whose function as friends are just as important to my well being and happiness as my ultimate friends. And I need to remember to appreciate them, and spend time with them as well.

3. There was life before ultimate, and there is life after ultimate.
I mean seriously. I know this. I've always known this. I am not playing frisbee this fall, because honestly if i can't commit myself 100% to a team, practice, be there, all that jazz, then I'm not going to play at all. I would much rather spend my money and time doing other things that i love to do instead of playing for a team that isn't going to win many games and that i don't particularly care about. I mean, I'm still slightly pissed that i didn't make a team, and it is kinda bull shit, but ya know what? i shouldn't take that out on others, which would happen, but also i am now open to spend time doing other things that i love with people that i basically have blown off for the last few years while i was devoting my life to ultimate. so there is life after frisbee-- i just have to remember that more often, and take the time to enjoy that life.

So if anyone wants to head to the mountains, or needs someone to go with them, call me up. I'm totally down :)