What Now?

When I was a kid, I was convinced I’d be the next Wayne Gretzky, or the next Barry Bonds. I truly believed that lacing up my skates at 7 a.m. on Sundays while the whole city slept would guarantee me a spot in the NHL (National Hockey League).

As I got older, reality began to hit me and by the time I got into high school, I realized that I wouldn't be breaking any scoring records. Instead, my expectations shifted to becoming a third or fourth line player. But I kept dreaming.

Then, one summer, I tore my medial collateral ligament (MCL). I remember the day vividly; it’s become one of the few memories that I can recall with all five senses. One minute I was playing basketball, jumping to get a rebound, and the next I was on the concrete, screaming in pain while clutching my deformed left knee.

I remember the doctor telling me that I’d be unable to play sports for at least six months and would need regular physiotherapy sessions, and possibly surgery, if I ever hoped to fully heal. When he delivered the news, I thought, what now?

He put my leg in a soft cast, gave me a pair of crutches and sent me on my way. Not the answer I was looking for.

Benjamin Franklin once said, “You can do anything you set your mind to,” and I’m sure most people have heard this quote sometime during their childhood. It’s a positive message that motivates a lot of young people, but it’s also one of the many lies we tell to shield young people from the disappointing reality of office jobs. This shield either becomes a source of motivation, or it becomes a crutch in early adulthood.

The truth is there’s no mathematical equation where hard work equals guaranteed success. Sometimes, setting your mind to something doesn't always yield the desired results; sometimes, it does the opposite and forces you to confront your physical, emotional and psychological limitations. And that can be devastating for anyone who’s told that anything is possible. 

I've since realized that I'd never become a professional athlete. If my lack of talent wasn't a dead giveaway, my injury-prone body made it clear. The trick is to accept and understand your limitations. Being able to adapt and overcome situations can be as vital to success as hard work.

PIERRE CORBETT-ROY

After spending ample time confined to a cubicle, Pierre has decided to hang up his suit and tie in order to pursue a writing career. He is a student at Algonquin College, in his final year in the Professional Writing program. Outside of class, Pierre is a passionate individual with a penchant for learning. A self-proclaimed nerd at heart, he also enjoys playing baseball and hockey, running, and over-analyzing things. On a rainy day, you can find him at his typewriter, transcribing his inner monologue.

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Escape

My equipment is especially heavy tonight as I sit in the locker room surrounded by teammates.  We're waiting for our coach to enter and rally us before the game as though we're in a cheesy Hollywood movie. The boys are joking around, retelling the pranks pulled on the unlucky few who fell asleep first in the hotel room the night before. They talk about their sexual conquests and compare notes on the specifics – you know…guy stuff. But not me. Instead, I remain quiet; I prefer to listen and observe the social interations.

The coach enters the room and everyone becomes quiet, like an angry mob just before its leader begins to speak.

He reminds us of the importance of the game and, in doing so, voices every cliché in the coaching handbook. It doesn’t matter because it seems to work. The guys are quiet, focused and prepared for the game. A little direction is all they need. 

The coach exits the room and, one by one, we follow suit. I walk down the narrow, unlit hallway and the music becomes progressively louder as I approach the ice. The guys in front of me step onto the frozen surface, one by one, and begin their warm-ups. The echoing sounds of rubber pucks hitting the boards provide a familiar comfort. When my turn to jump onto the ice comes, I hesitate and fill my lungs with air. I exhale and watch the cold turn my breath into vapour. I watch it rise and disappear before I leap onto the ice, now completely at ease.

That day I found out that someone close to me had fallen seriously ill, and I was miles away, unable to return home to be with them. Some things are out of our control. As soon as I jumped onto the ice, my only concern was to play my best. My motivation, my dedication, my performance, those things I could control.

For some, hockey is just a game, but for others, it is much more than that; it is a temporary escape, a therapeutic distraction, a simple reminder that they are not always powerless.

PIERRE CORBETT-ROY

After spending ample time confined to a cubicle, Pierre has decided to hang up his suit and tie in order to pursue a writing career. He is a student at Algonquin College, in his final year in the Professional Writing program. Outside of class, Pierre is a passionate individual with a penchant for learning. A self-proclaimed nerd at heart, he also enjoys playing baseball and hockey, running, and over-analyzing things. On a rainy day, you can find him at his typewriter, transcribing his inner monologue.

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Why do We Love to Win?

“If winning isn’t everything, then why do they keep score?”

— Vince Lombardi

I discovered at a very young age that I love to win. Whether it's a debate, a race or a baseball tournament, it doesn't matter; I have to win. This dominant characteristic has led me to devote a substantial amount of my time playing sports. Thankfully, my parents were able to immerse me in an environment that fostered sane and healthy competition.

As a child, I had no idea that my obsession was influenced by ulterior motives; all I knew was that winning felt good, and losing didn't. But now, armed with the power of introspection and motivated by the desire to understand human behaviour, I am able to comprehend the biological and sociological importance of competitive sports, as well as people's motivation to compete.

Biology:

Competition plays an important role for all living species. Intraspecific competition is defined by a contest for resources in an ecosystem between members of the same species. For example, two plants within close proximity will compete with one another for light, water and nutrients. In this scenario, the plant that loses the competition dies, leaving the winner to thrive in a resource abundant environment. This competition for resources in nature is at the very core of evolution, and can’t be overlooked when trying to understand the motivations behind human behaviour. In other words, it's natural for every living organism to compete in order to survive, and the fact that you are alive and able to read my post is proof that you are a competitive being. And you have already won the most important competition imaginable.

Society:

Sports aside, society displays an affinity for competition; it can be found in almost every aspect of our everyday life. Companies compete in an attempt to monopolize a specific market, politicians compete against one another to win elections and individuals compete to be hired by employers.

Furthermore, as a collective, we celebrate and encourage the winning mentality, which only solidifies the presence of competition in our society. Whether this encouragement is a result of our biology or the result of an out-dated ideology is up for debate. What I know for sure is that we must adapt and compete or, as history clearly shows, we will be labeled as losers and left to die. 

PIERRE CORBETT-ROY

After spending ample time confined to a cubicle, Pierre has decided to hang up his suit and tie in order to pursue a writing career. He is a student at Algonquin College, in his final year in the Professional Writing program. Outside of class, Pierre is a passionate individual with a penchant for learning. A self-proclaimed nerd at heart, he also enjoys playing baseball and hockey, running, and over-analyzing things. On a rainy day, you can find him at his typewriter, transcribing his inner monologue.

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