Once you're in the game and it's a part of your life, you never

In the voice of the athlete, we hear echoes of the warrior of old. So spoke Joe Sakic, master of the ice and captain of men: “Once you’re in the game and it’s a part of your life, you never want to leave it. But you have to be committed to be able to travel and do the things you need to do to be successful in whatever role you’re doing.” These words carry not only the breath of sport, but the heartbeat of all enduring endeavors. For the game is not merely hockey, nor any one contest—it is life itself, and the call to give oneself wholly to a pursuit greater than comfort.

To be in the game is to step into a realm where passion and discipline intertwine. It is the forge of the soul, where challenges temper the will, where victories lift the spirit, and where defeats carve lessons into the heart. Sakic reminds us that once a man or woman has tasted this fire, they never wish to abandon it—for the game becomes not something played, but something lived. And yet, desire alone is not enough. The ancients knew well that longing must be matched by sacrifice, by the willingness to leave home, to endure the road, to embrace the ceaseless demands of one’s calling.

Consider the tale of Alexander the Great, who, once having entered the game of conquest, could not rest until he had reached the edge of the known world. He was committed not only to victory but to the endless march, the burden of travel, the weight of decisions that would shape nations. He could have stopped, content with a vast empire already won, but the spirit of the game would not release him. Like the athlete who refuses to retire, Alexander pressed onward, for the pursuit itself had become his very life. His story is both a triumph and a warning: the game can inspire greatness, but it demands ceaseless dedication.

In Sakic’s words, there is also humility. He does not speak only of glory, but of duty. To remain in the game—whether as player, leader, or mentor—requires accepting the unseen burdens: the wearying travel, the long hours of labor, the strain upon body and spirit. This echoes the truth of all great endeavors: the general must march with his troops, the poet must endure long nights of solitude, the parent must give of themselves daily. Commitment is the hidden price of excellence.

And so, the quote becomes not merely about sport, but about the rhythm of every worthy pursuit. If you desire greatness in any role, you must first ask: Am I willing to go where it leads? Am I willing to endure the roads, the trials, the unseen costs? The fire of passion will ignite you, but only the steady oil of commitment will keep your lamp burning through the long journey.

The lesson is clear: to live meaningfully is to choose the game and to remain steadfast in it. Do not flee when the road grows long. Do not complain when travel carries you far from comfort. Do not despair when the weight of responsibility presses heavily upon you. Instead, embrace it as proof that you are still in the arena, still shaping your destiny. For those who step away too soon lose not only the game, but the part of themselves that comes alive within it.

Practically, this calls us to cultivate discipline. Rise early and prepare for your task, even when you would rather sleep. Accept the necessary journeys—whether of body, mind, or spirit—that your role demands. When fatigue whispers that you have given enough, remember that true success is not won by moments of ease, but by years of endurance. Whatever your game may be—sport, craft, service, or love—play it with the full measure of your strength, and let commitment be your shield.

Thus, Sakic’s wisdom shines with ancient fire. To be in the game is a blessing, but to remain in it is a triumph of will. Cherish the passion, but honor the labor. For when the final day comes, and you look back upon your life, it will not be comfort that gives you peace, but the knowledge that you stayed faithful to the path, that you gave your all, and that in the great game of existence, you played with courage until the very end.