Just Send It – For the Love of the Game
When failure's sting has brought you to your knees,
And self-doubt whispers, echoing the crowd's disdain,
The past stands fixed, unyielding to your pleas,
No step retraced to ease the present pain.
Though every sinew aches, and hope seems fled,
And giving up appears the easy way,
Recall the certain end if that path's led,
A game foreclosed before its final play.
So laugh instead, despite the cruel demands,
Breathe deep and tell your weary mind you'll cope,
Then trust your future to determined hands,
And fool yourself into believing hope.
For loss is only final when you quit;
Just send it, for the love and heart of it.
Maybe life hasn’t been kind to you lately—or maybe it never has. You might feel lost or unsure about where you’re heading. Maybe you know exactly what you want, but just don’t know how to get there.
Sometimes, the thing you wanted most—the goal you gave everything for, the one thing you thought could fix everything—doesn’t happen. It’s okay to feel disbelief, to wonder where you went wrong, and to question whether there was something you could have done differently. But dwelling on these what-ifs won’t change the outcome.
Right now, you’re probably exhausted—mentally, physically, emotionally. People around you may doubt your ability to recover, and their doubts might amplify your own. But remember, you have two clear choices: you can either give up, or you can choose to stand back up.
Giving up offers a guaranteed conclusion. We all face that same ultimate end eventually. But why rush to quit the game? Life offers infinite possibilities. Things could get worse, improve significantly, or stay the same—but none of these outcomes is static or predetermined. If you’re going to bet on something, bet on your resilience—on the indomitable spirit that makes us human. Bet on yourself.
You’re not truly alone. You have people who love and care about you deeply. But at the end of the day, only you can change your situation. You have to be the one to take action. Figure out what you need to get through the next step. If it becomes overwhelming, ask yourself: What’s the smallest step I can take right now? And if you need someone else’s help, reach out. You might think, Why would anyone help me with this when it’s my problem? But consider this: how can anyone help you if you never ask?
Help will always be given at Hogwarts to those who ask for it. – Albus Dumbledore in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling
You are on your own, kid. You always have been. – Taylor Swift (Midnights, 2022)
Think of it as the derivative of progress—infinitesimally small, but still in the right direction.
Your value doesn’t come from always being right, never making mistakes, or never feeling pain when you lose. Your strength is found in your stubborn determination to never give up, no matter how overwhelming the odds.
So how exactly do you keep going?
First, laugh at the absurdity of your situation. When life gets tough, sometimes all you can do is laugh. Then, take a deep breath and remind yourself: I believe in my ability. Even if you’re struggling with doubt right now, act as if you believe. Convince yourself—and you might just convince the universe too.
Once you’ve decided you’re capable—just send it.
It doesn’t matter how many times you’ve failed or how often things haven’t gone your way. “Sending it” means embracing challenges that seem impossible and making miracles happen. When others doubt you or tell you it can’t be done, tap into your inner resilience. Find strength in the fact that no matter how many setbacks come your way, you’re not ready to quit yet. Don’t be so afraid of failure that you don’t even try.
Get up. Improve. Focus. And just send it.
Because the only thing worse than losing is giving up.
So just send it—for the love of the game.