Many people have things in their lives that they cherish and can't see themselves living without, like in the essay "Music," by Louis Gonzalez. He had an obsession for music and an intimate kind of relationship formed with the every sounds of music. "(Music's) weight was a lover's hand upon my shoulder, and its hourglass body was a pleasure to hold. It whispered sweet kisses in my ear." (221) For me this obsession is the sport of basketball simply because brings me enjoyment, healthy physical exercise, and the appreciation for every aspect of the game. Basketball has been this for me for many years going back to elementary school and my great fondness for this sport hasn't decreased any, but has grown even more over the years.
Enjoying the things that you do is a factor for happiness, and I strive to be happy and bring a happy environment around me everywhere I go. It seems that the only way possible to me is by way of the sport of basketball. Every time I step on a basketball court it brings enjoyment to me because it is some sort of an adventure seeing what the outcome of a basketball game is going to be, wondering if I can push my body to new heights and overcome adversity, all this taking place in my head and the basketball court.
Working out hard for something that you enjoy, like lifting weights and running laps, helps that person get better at whatever they are working out for. In Louis Gonzalez" case he practiced with the music and joined a band, the same as a basketball player joining a fitness group or getting a membership at a fitness center. "(Louis Gonzalez) joined a local college group and began to play small venues." (222) The feeling of sweat running down my face in the heat is not a good feeling, but even basketball makes that a wonderful experience and knowing that that sweat came from the hard healthy physical work that I put out on the court made me feel good about how much exercise I was putting out.