It was too early. My head was pounding and my eyes inextricably blurry. Yet, I still felt butterflies as we turned toward Amherst Center. It was a pilgrimage to Ultimate's Mecca. It was another annual weekend of joy at the Invitational.

Building a successful team entails bonding with teammates. But with "Spirit of the Game," Ultimate also stresses individual sportsmanship. Playing with my high school, my select team, or even pickup at the Coliseum has made me internalize Ultimate. I chase every play because inconceivable plays become possible. I cut hard every cut because there's no telling which will work. I call the right calls out of respect for the game—and myself.

Ultimate has become a lifestyle. My Ultimate teammates are my ultimate friends. The disc's movement is my life—dynamic yet honing in on a target.

But most importantly, I wake up to play Ultimate because it makes me happy.