There are many metaphors through which we can view this human life.
We can see it as a school, as a battle, as a dance, or even as a prison.
Each of us is free to choose which metaphor(s) to use. It’s wise to choose a metaphor which supports you in being happy.
I have a strong background in sports and have long gravitated toward seeing life as a sport.
This is not a new perspective. The ancient Vedic texts view human life as a maha lila, which translates as big/divine sport. They say that God creates this world and incarnates into human bodies to enjoy playing in form.
Just recently, an insight came to me which has been extremely helpful and perhaps will be useful to you as well.
In most sports, scoring is cumulative. For example, in football or basketball, if you get way behind, it is extremely difficult if not impossible to come back and win the game.
But, in the game of life, there is no cumulative scoring. There is only this point.
We get to define winning however we want.
I define winning as being Present and gratefully receiving Life as it is.
No matter what happened in the past, including the last moment, I have the opportunity to show up NOW and consciously, gratefully receive the gift of Life.
I find it incredibly freeing to realize that no choices I made, or things I said or did previously, limit my ability to win this point.
And this point–this present moment—is truly all that matters. The Great Masters all teach us that the past doesn’t really exist NOW.
So, the score is always 0-0 and this point is all there is.
Interestingly enough, in my favorite sport, tennis, 0 is called “love.” So you could say that we began each point with love.
When we start from Love and play one point at a time, we can fully enjoy all the challenges the game of Life may offer.