Love Poem... Dear Soccer

Dear Soccer,

Thank you. Thank you for everything you’ve ever done for me. Although this might not be the final goodbye, it is a goodbye for now. I appreciate you always being there for me and getting me through difficult times. For 3-4 hours a day I was able to put all my energy and focus into one thing. That one thing, being you. You opened so many paths for me and opened my eyes to the world. Through you I was able to experience a lot of things that I otherwise probably wouldn’t have gotten the chance to do. Through you I got to meet some people that have become my brothers that will be with me for the rest of my life.

You took me to my first trip to Europe where I not only got to play soccer, I got to tour cities and meet people that I would never have done or met before. I’ve had billions and billions of laughs and smiles along the way with people that I never would have met before. Two of my best friends, I’ve met through you. Even though none of us play on the same team anymore, we still make the effort to hang out and do things. Probably what I’m most grateful for, is the fact that you kept me busy all these years. You distracted me from all the bad things that exist in this world, didn’t let me get sucked in to any of it. Instead you kept me sane and let me grow up the way everyone should. Not to mention you kept me in shape… like, really good shape. And to top it all off, I didn’t even have to do anything for it.

Don’t get me wrong though, it wasn’t all easy… There were times where it was basically a living hell. Running all those extra miles, waking up at ungodly hours to get ready for a game, missing the best parties for a simple practice, but at the end of the day… I wouldn’t want it any other way. You taught me the importance of sacrifice, and how beneficial it all is once it’s done in the right circumstance. So to you, I say thank you. For everything. Hopefully our paths cross again in the future, but until then, goodbye.

Love,

Skyler Gonzales