Beyond the Arena…

Daily writing prompt

Name the professional athletes you respect the most and why.

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Honestly? None. This is one of those prompts I’d rather skip.

I used to be all in, I cheered until I was hoarse, lived for the energy of the crowd, and kept track of every stat as if it mattered in my own life. Sports were once a big part of my world. But somewhere along the way, I lost interest.

It wasn’t sudden; it was more like a slow unraveling. I began to notice how much of my time, energy, and even money went into watching others chase their glory. Meanwhile, in the real world, the people I truly admired weren’t on a court or a track. They were the ones who worked three jobs to keep their family afloat, the ones who faced illness with courage, the ones who quietly picked themselves back up after being knocked down by life.

So no, I don’t respect professional athletes anymore, not because they aren’t talented, but because my definition of strength and endurance has changed. I respect the unsung, everyday people whose victories are invisible but whose resilience is extraordinary. That’s the game I follow now.

Mae 🧡