Does participation in sports contribute to all-round

personal growth?
What is growth for a person?

One might say that growth means betterment. But, I

disagree. I feel that growth is more about ‘enhancement’, than
betterment; for anything that helps enhance the array of
experiences we gather over the course of our lives, is growth.

To elaborate, we may fail many a times, and that failure is

no betterment for us… and yet, it is growth. And indeed, I feel,
that participation in sports does encourage us to grow.

Sports should occupy a very important spot in our lives,

for reasons that are manifold in nature.

It helps impart leadership to us; and by knowing how to

lead others, a man can know how to lead his own life well. And
also, leaders are what our future absolutely needs.

It gives us a sense of duty and responsibility; helping us to

know, deep in our hearts, what is right and what is not, and
giving a ‘ little voice in our heads’ to it.

It helps build a team spirit; and since many of us lose the

connection to sports after we grow up, it is very important, that
early on, it imprints onto us the foundations of honesty and
teamwork, which we later come to value in ourselves.

And not to, in any way, undermine the astounding effects

it has on our health; on a physical, mental, as well as spiritual
level, in terms of not just detoxification, but also growth.

And of course, as the topic itself suggests, it imbibes

within us, a spirit of enthusiastic participation, which is what
really helps expand our horizons to beyond what we ourselves
imagined we could achieve.

It instils in us, a positive attitude towards everything we

come across henceforth in life. It gives us the sense to not give
up. And because of that, we learn to take everything life throws
at us in a positive manner, and manage to take all our problems
in our stride.

And this is just for a start! From the time we’re wee toddlers,
sports is one of the main concerns we have… “When can I go
to play?”, “How long can I play for?” and many other phrases
are vastly familiar to us. We form a connection, nay, a bond
with it then, and passionately follow it our entire lives. And it
may reduce later on, when our workload increases and our hairs
go grey; but even then, what we associate to sports , is only an
expression of warm, fond, remembrance.

For many of us, it leaves us with an everlasting connection to

many people, who we now call childhood friends. The long
hours spent in the playgrounds, chasing balls, running,
skipping, cycling… happy, are what really leave a mark upon
us, and add a very important dimension to our personalities. We
may not even realise it ourselves, but it is this amazing,
beautiful activity, that makes up a huge chunk of who we are
as a person, and who we aim to be.

Sports teaches us to be fixed, determined to achieve what we

aim towards, and focus solely towards our goals in life, with a
clear and calm mind; taking each challenge step by step,
clearing it, and moving on. It shows us how simple life can be,
in place of the complex mystery we make it out to be.

And so, yes, go on! Participate. Enthusiastically, frantically,

passionately… however you want to! Run, jog, play, and most
of all, grow!