Recently I was invited to watch a local football match nearby workplace. Football is popular in Hong Kong, with many fans supporting the well known overseas teams/clubs, e.g. Manchester United or Real Madrid. The local football teams/clubs are rather unnoticed and labeled as “lacking professional standard”.

I am no football fan or any player myself. In fact I have never any intention to watch a full match, let alone one played by the “unknown” and unpopular teams. Indeed it is uncommon for one to willingly experience something he/she is not interested in, nor assumingly “not up to standard”. A few years back then if I were invited to watch the similar football match, I would mostly regard such event as “non-relatable to personal interest”, and not worth for “killing time”.

Yet on that night I decided to give it a try. I was curious at my personal experience of the match myself. In the first half of the match, I could hardly focus on the game. From time to time my eyes drifted off from the football field. I looked at the near empty audience stage, and wondered how the players could maintain optimism with the lack of cheers.

I also noticed some back-up players doing warm-ups. I was amazed by their determined looks just to prepare for the very few minutes of performance. I reckon their attitude had an influence on me, as I gradually became more attentive to the game. The moment as one player scored a goal I could not control myself but gave out a loud cheer.

Upon that moment I realized the meaning of a football match. The professional tactics and skills are important, yet the more important gaining I receive is the team’s professional attitude which kept the match going.

From holding an ignorant presumptuous attitude, as I now admit, I took the step out to explore and understand. And I found meaning in the process.

Everything, big or small, interesting or boring, important or unnoticed, has its own meaning and value, and only if we take time to explore it.

#football #hongkong #match #game #inspirational #sharing #empowerment