WHY DO I PLAY?

WHY DO I PLAY?
THOSE WHO DON'T, CAN'T UNDERSTAND.
THE PAIN IS REAL EVERY DAY.
IS IT EASIER NOW?  NOT REALLY.
THE SAME PAIN I FELT THE VERY FIRST DAY I BEGAN.
THE PAIN IS THE SAME AND I UNDERSTAND IT ALWAYS WILL BE.
I DREAD IT AND IN A SENSE I CRAVE IT

WHY DO I PLAY?
TO STAY IN SHAPE, TO KEEP MY HEALTH, TO FEEL BETTER - ALL PARTIAL REASONS, I SUPPOSE.
THE REAL REASON IS CONFIRMATION - CONFIRMATION THAT I AM IN CONTROL
EVERYDAY I MUST MAKE A CHOICE - A CHOICE TO EXPERIENCE PAIN AND DISCOMFORT IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE A HIGHER GOAL
OR TO GIVE INTO THE BODY'S URGING TO DO SOMETHING ELSE MORE COMFORTING AND PLEASURABLE.
WHO IS IN CONTROL?  MY BODY OR ME?
EVERY TIME I PLAY, I VERIFY TO ME THAT I AM IN CONTROL AND THAT I CAN BE THE MASTER OF MY OWN DESTINY.
THAT IS ULTIMATELY WHY I PLAY.

WHY DO I PLAY?
I FEEL GUILT WHEN I DON'T PLAY - WHEN THE BODY WINS.
PLAYING IS A TEST OF MY STRENGTH, NOT JUST PHYSICAL, BUT MENTAL.
PLAYING IS A CHALLENGE OF MY "WILL", OF MIND OVER MATTER, OF ME AGAINST MYSELF.
PLAYING IS MENTAL CONDITIONING AS WELL AS PHYSICAL.
IT'S THERAPY OF THE "WILL" FOR ME.  PLAYING IS SUCCESS - THE RICHEST AND MOST DEEPLY SATISFYING.
STRANGELY, BUT UNMISTAKABLY TIED TO SELF-DISCIPLINE, SELF-DENIAL AND SELF-CONTROL.
IN A WORLD WHERE I OFTEN FELL HELPLESS, VICTIMIZED AND CONTROLLED, PLAYING HELPS REVIVE FEELINGS OF HOPE, STRENGTH AND CONVICTION THAT I CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND I CAN BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ME.

WHY DO I PLAY?
AN ADDICTION OR CHOICE, YOU SAY.
AND YOU'RE RIGHT, THERE'S A DANGER.
SO LONG AS I "CHOOSE", THE VALUE REMAINS TRUE AND REAL.
SO LONG AS I CONTROL PLAYING AND NOT PLAYING - ME.
POSITIVE ADDICTION OR NOT, THE VALUE IS IN CHOOSING.
WHEN THE CHOICE IS GONE, I BECOME CONTROLLED AND VICTIMIZED AGAIN.
ONE MORE THING IN MY LIFE THAT TELLS ME THAT I AM NOT IN CONTROL, THAT I AM SIMPLY A PAWN OF FATE AND CIRCUMSTANCE.
I MUST PLAY AS A CHOICE, NOT OUT OF NECESSITY OR ITS REAL VALUE AGAIN IS GONE FOR ME.

WHY DO I PLAY?
I PLAY FOR SUCCESS, SUCCESS IN THE ULTIMATE GAME.
THE GAME OF ME AGAINST MYSELF.
I PLAY FOR ME.
I PLAY TO BE THE MASTER OF MY OWN DESTINY.
I PLAY TO WIN!

Author Unknown