Therapeutic Properties of Football

Nick Giulioni writes:

In recent weeks, I have been feeling myself growing increasingly stressed.  This additional anxiety is the culmination of homework, college applications, SATs, and other teenage things.  With all of these time-consuming and pressure-filled activities devouring my life, I have found little time to sleep, and, consequently, my health degrading.

Being a former football player, I am quite proud of my physique and health, but with the growing responsibilities I have, I often find it easy to neglect exercise in favor of getting work done and thus improving my GPA.

So, with lack of exercise, sleep, and way too much work, I felt like I had been through a physical and emotional blender. But in one lunch period, I became revitalized.

My friend brought a football to school, and we played a game of two-hand touch.  This gave us all a chance to stretch our cramped legs, a chance to compete against one another in a friendly environment, and a chance to just have some fun.

This opportunity proves to me the therapeutic properties of friends and exercise.  It gave us a break from our responsibilities to just be kids again.  And, just for the record, I made an amazing one-handed catch in the end zone to win the game.

Comments

[Sarah in NC]

Hey, Nick,

I have a daughter who's also a senior this year, and the pressures seem to be about the same on both coasts - she is as stressed as you, but also like you seems to be handling it all with a level head. I just wanted to say "kudos to you" for keeping up with your blog here in spite of all the pressure; you're a lot more regular about it than the adults! :)

Even with all you have to do, don't forget to just have fun - this is your senior year! Sounds like you've remembered that lesson today with your football game. Don't give in to the stress - blow off steam often, and later this year enjoy the results of all your hard work when the acceptance letters start coming in.