Sometimes, you find solace in the simplest of things, like how sports have always been more than just a game for me. It all started when I was still in kindergarten. My dad wasn’t home much due to work, which often required him to travel for days at a time. But when he was, I vividly remember he always made time to watch his favorite club. I’d sit with him, wide-eyed, fixated on the television though I barely understood what was happening on the screen. It was through these moments that my admiration for Manchester United (in all fairness, they deserved it in the early 2000s), for football—and sports in general—began. However, that was just the beginning of my journey with sports.

Growing up with three brothers, exercise became a regular part of my family’s life where we had weekly badminton and football practice. After each session, my dad would take us to a nearby Padang restaurant, and we’d feast on gulai, sambal, and oily food—because calories weren’t even in my tiniest concern back then. These little traditions made sports a natural hobby for me. From school to college, I joined several sports activities, immersing myself in the world of athleticism and early morning weekend matches. Then, as I entered adulthood, sports became more than just a pastime—it became my source of comfort. One time, days before an important marketing rebranding presentation at work, I was anxious and stressed the whole day because my head of division had been critical of my previous effort. But once I hit the field and started running, feeling both the joy and exhaustion from chasing the ball, my perspective shifted. I thought, “It’s just a presentation. I did my best, and if that’s not enough, it’s okay. She was disappointed with me before, and I got through it—I’ll get over it again.” Exercising offered me an escape from the monotony of daily life, a one to two-hour period where my chaotic emotions could be calmed by focusing on physical challenges.

In 2017 I went through a painful experience—I was hurt deeply and felt lost. I decided to get a gym membership, partly to stay active since I hadn’t been working out much in recent years and partly in desperation for the fun times that exercising has given me. I dabbled in several exercises like indoor cycling, yoga, pilates, and Muay Thai, trying anything that felt within my reach or induced my curiosity. At first, it was tough, but after a while, I found joy in it again and it became a ritual I look up to. Each week my mind wondered, which sport should I try now? Like picking an outfit for a dinner party. Working out became my refuge—it distracted me, kept me busy, and helped me feel grounded in the present.

At that point, exercising wasn’t just a hobby; they were my escape and my therapy.

In another occurrence, exercising also offered a sense of belongingness to my daily life. While I’ve always cherished my alone time, I wasn’t prepared me for how isolating adulthood could be. Sometimes, I just wanted to share my life experiences with others or have fun with friends to get the life baggage off my head. Moreover, it was tedious to go through the daily grind of work. That’s when I stumbled upon an old friend from college who introduced me to flag football. I decided to give it a shot. At first, I was confused because this sport was new to me, but after a few practices, I was hooked. I even went on to participate in several tournaments and ended up as 3rd place in one. I loved the practice sessions, getting lost on the way to unfamiliar fields, and the sense of adventure that came with it. Despite my hectic schedule, I made time for three practice sessions and a weekend match every week. Flag football didn’t just introduce me to a new sport—it brought me new friends, a sense of belonging, and a reminder that competitive sports are for all ages. The whole experience has indeed been surprising and joyful.

Throughout my life, I have participated in various team sports and recently, I noticed that apart from bringing delight and a sense of belongingness, they have helped to heal certain parts of me that I didn’t realize needed fixing. Human connection has always been a challenge for me as I often felt awkward and worried. And again, somehow, sports fixed it for me. Yet again, last year I tried a new sport and joined a new community full of expats, this time called touch rugby which is a safer version of contact rugby where you touch a person and shout “TOUCH” instead of tackling them. After doing rugby and flag football for several months I realized they made me comfortable to shout, to bring my voice to the room and to touch people (because I have to) or hug them when winning or making a good move (oh please, don’t take my words out of context-though I know it sounds a bit confusing). I also made new connections with the then-strangers-turned-friends in the community. I learned team sports have made me more comfortable expressing myself and connecting with others, such a new-found version of me.

I also realized that sports have pushed me beyond my physical and mental limits. I have been hospitalised a few times as a kid for getting into multiple accidents and losing blood, so I grew up being cautious of getting injured. Sometimes, despite my ability to catch or pass the ball, I restrict myself to certain actions because they seem dangerous. But God, in touch rugby, more often than not, I had to dive into the touchline to score a touchdown, which looks dangerous. Yet, a few months ago in the rush of adrenaline, I made a spontaneous dive to the grassy field, scratched my hand, scored a touch, and discovered that I had overcome my fear of getting injured. This empowered me to continue trying the dive and taking “calculated” risks without hesitation.

I realized that exercising is my form of meditation to connect with my body and mind, giving me a way to keep going despite life’s challenges. From my early days of watching football with my dad to playing casually with my siblings to becoming an activity I look up to every week, sports have been a constant in my life. It has taught me resilience during tough times, pushed me beyond my limits, and provided a healthy way to cope with my emotions while staying fit. I’ve learned that sports are about growth, finding peace in movement, and discovering who you are along the way. It’s not just about winning, but about becoming your best self physically or mentally.

So, I encourage you to wear those pair of dusty sneakers in your shoe rack and just do it like the famous Nike tagline.