I was watching TV last week, and happened to chance upon a documentary about “Botham’s Ashes” a series played between England and Australia in 1981, named after Botham, as he played a huge part in turning a lost cause into a significant win again English cricket’s biggest rivals, Australia.
It was only when I got into watching it that I realised it was on as 30 years have passed since that summer…
It Was The Summer of ’73…
Image by David_Turner via Flickr
It really got me thinking how long ago it was since I started playing cricket (1973 was the answer, if you include beach cricket!) and the impact that this has had on my life.
Like many people I have been through many changes in my life and not many things have been consistent. But cricket has always been there, and has always been a great outlet for me.
It may not be the most athletic sport out there – otherwise I wouldn’t still be playing at 41 with my legendary lack of fitness – but it did get me thinking about what a sport or hobby means to people.
Escape To Nowhere
Most of all, it is an opportunity for escapism from the grind of everyday life. Whatever you do for a job, or what family pressures you may have, a hobby provides an outlet for those pressures.
There are few better things, and hardly a more complete sense of calm, than to completely absorb yourself in an activity. It almost doesn’t matter what it is, as long as you are completely involved in it, it can be wonderful therapy and a great distraction.
It doesn’t need to be a sport, although sports are good exercise and good for working out physical tension – it can just as easily be arts, music or crafts.
Its All A Bit Childish, But We Enjoy It!
For me, no matter what has happened during the week, I get the chance to stand around in a field taking the mickey out of my team mates (and occasionally it has to be said, the opposition) for six hours on a Saturday afternoon. The sense of losing yourself for the afternoon is wonderful, and even if I turn up in a foul mood, I always leave in a better frame of mind.
This is really important, as I class myself as an optimist, and therefore if I am in a bad mood, I need to find a way of getting rid of it fast!
Hobbies form an important chance for us to connect too. We can come together with people we barely know, where we are bound only by a common interest. At the end we can often end up making friends that last a lifetime, and extend well beyond just our own team or even local area.
So if you’re on a cricket field near Southend/Shoeburyness soon and you see a slightly overweight left handed batsman blowing like a steam train, whilst trying to look like Marcus Trescothick, come over and say hello.
I won’t be able to answer as I’ll be too out of breath, but at least you’ll know I am completely relaxed…!
What Can I Do?
Take action. Get involved. That’s it!
We’ve all got an interest or something we’d like to try, so don’t wait to be asked, get on-line and search for your interest. And if you think you don’t have time, reshuffle your priorities. At the end of it, I think you’ll be glad you did!
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