Soccer Announcers Encouraged Me to Write
I was supposed to be writing a novel, at least according to my mom, having lived at home for three years after grad school. But I had serious mental health problems: depression, anxiety, and Bipolar I disorder, which wouldn’t be diagnosed until the following June.
Day after day, month after month, I found it impossible to write anything meaningful.
But I certainly wasn’t going to miss the 2014 World Cup.
My dad claims I’ve watched games from every World Cup starting from 1986 when I was a baby. He used to play competitive soccer and has always been a fan. Long ago, his enthusiasm leached into me.
So instead of working on my novel, I planted myself on the couch, determined to watch every game. All the while, I wrote furiously in my leather-bound journal, recording words the announcers said and my own fanciful observations.
In the language of soccer, I found life, creativity, and the breadth and depth of human emotions — everything my novel draft lacked.
In the announcers’ commentary, I noticed a lot of language about creation. For instance, “That was the first time they created a good chance,” or, “He created a great opportunity.”
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