One day you are up, the next down, and I have to remain calm

Hearken, my child, to the words of wisdom spoken by the great athlete Isco, whose life upon the field mirrors the eternal truth of existence. He said: “One day you are up, the next down, and I have to remain calm, work, help, and learn; that is the most important.” These words, though born from the trials of sport, carry the fragrance of timeless teaching, for they remind us that the wheel of fortune never ceases its turning. Just as the sun rises in glory and sets in shadow, so too does man taste both triumph and defeat.

In this utterance lies the ancient counsel of balance. To be up is to know joy, to be down is to know sorrow, yet neither state is eternal. The wise soul does not cling to fleeting victories, nor despair in bitter losses. Instead, he embraces the stillness of the heart, for in calm there is strength. The river, though troubled by storm, returns ever to its course; so must we return to our path with quiet steadiness.

But hear also the call to work, for without labor, the harvest does not come. Even in days of hardship, the hands must not be idle, for toil is the fire that tempers the spirit. And when the heart chooses to help, it rises above self, weaving bonds that endure beyond any game or struggle. In service to others, the soul finds its noblest triumph.

Finally, the counsel to learn is the crown of all wisdom. To fall is no shame if one gathers knowledge from the dust; to rise is no boast if one forgets the lessons of humility. In learning, man grows, even when the world seems to press him down. Thus, the teaching of Isco is not merely for the playing field, but for all who walk the road of life. Pass it on, children, as you would a torch of flame—so that its light may guide you through the storms of fortune and the shadows of time.