Life after sports, the transition feels harder than any game or competition you’ve ever participated in—the constant pondering of whether or not there is a life after sports. Indeed, everyone lives a different life, but many choose to forget the countless opportunities you have in life, even after your time as an athlete is up. The blood, sweat, and tears all accumulate and contribute to life after sports. In more ways than not, sports create a more beneficial foundation for individuals to take into their careers or future jobs.
For some, the struggle is with identity and moving on from a consistent routine you’ve had for the past 10 or more years, for example, it is not easy to come to terms with the fact that their time as an athlete is up. Life, as previously stated, is a tough pill to swallow. Imagine waiting for your 6 am lift or practice throughout the evening, and all you do is keep waiting because at the end of the day, you cannot be an athlete your whole life. The amount of free time you have when your time as an athlete is up tends to hurt you more than it helps, in a way that the excess time you are given builds up and allows you to ponder continuously. Ponder who you are and what you are going to do next. In our shared nature as humans, we overthink, but in some cases, more often than not. The everlasting lack of completion you feel after what could have been arguably the most significant part of your life is now over. Comparable to being accustomed to a particular way of living and then suddenly living the opposite. There are struggles for one to adapt to change. However, embracing change is the only way to adapt to change. Recognizing the fact that you are now entering a new way of life and evolving. Basic human nature, evolving. As humans, we grow and change throughout time; for some individuals, it is not the easiest thing to do. 
Furthermore, sports benefit you more than just physically. You are taught various life lessons that you can eventually apply to your everyday life. Learning to push through different forms of adversity and push yourself to be the best version of yourself can elevate your ability to apply yourself to the real world. The characteristics illuminate through every athlete, regardless of sport. It is just in every athlete to build and accept these traits. If you have ever seen the movie Inside Out, the registered emotions show up as different colored balls with a specific memory attached to them. After enough memories are registered, an island appears where all the memories go. Think of the situations that athletes go through; the process is quite similar. Trial and error happen every day as an athlete; therefore, it is only natural that you fail, and that creates the resilience and determined character within every athlete.
To conclude, your time as an athlete may be up, but your life is not over. Learn to accept and embrace the change, and apply yourself to whatever you may do afterward. Regardless of whether or not you have a plan for the future, any real-life situation will become way more manageable, and it gives you the upper hand because you have already faced similar situations, if not worse.
