| If you've ever played a little tennis you know there is a | | | | commentator say about Raphael Nadal that he plays |
| lot more to the game than meets the eye. The | | | | every shot like it's his last. I guess that works for him, |
| professionals make it look so simple, but that's | | | | but even he doesn't hit every shot in the court. It's the |
| because they've spent years honing their skills. In | | | | reason they have a statistic called, "unforced errors." |
| learning any new activity, you can find lots of | | | | You are going to mishit the ball sometimes. We don't |
| metaphors for life. Learning the game of tennis has | | | | do everything perfectly in life either. |
| done more than benefit my health and agility, it has | | | | Stay in the moment. I hit one ball poorly and fumed |
| also taught me some life lessons. It makes sense that | | | | about it. In fact, I was still frustrated over that shot |
| the game that begins its scoring with the word "love," | | | | when the next one came my way. And guess what? I |
| has so much to offer in other areas of our lives. Here | | | | hit that ball poorly as well. I wasn't in the moment. |
| are some things I have learned so far: | | | | You've got to let go of the past and move on. |
| Feedback. In commenting about my forehand, my | | | | You Gotta Have Fun. If I'm not taking myself too |
| husband said, "You need to bring your arm from low to | | | | seriously, it is easy to laugh when I make stupid |
| high in your swing." Well, you see, that is what I thought | | | | mistakes. And having fun is what keeps me coming |
| I was doing. I asked for his advice so I couldn't | | | | back for me. Interestingly enough, I often play better |
| necessarily grumble about it, but I wanted to. You have | | | | when I'm not taking myself too seriously anyway. |
| to go from low to high to get that desired top-spin on | | | | Believe. Melanie Oudin had the word, "believe" printed |
| the ball and even though I thought I was doing that, it | | | | on her court shoes. Tennis is such a mind game. You |
| wasn't enough. Sometimes getting feedback from | | | | have to work hard, be strong, and know the |
| others is the only way we can make improvements. | | | | techniques. But you also have to believe in yourself. As |
| Follow-through. You must follow through on each shot. | | | | Richard Bach said "Sooner or later, those who win are |
| Watch the pros, you'll see what I mean. They have | | | | those who think they can." |
| incredible follow through on each shot. It is important in | | | | These are just some of the life lessons that I've |
| life to follow through as well. It's not always easy, but | | | | learned from tennis. Tennis champion Arthur Ashe |
| making a commitment to do it as much as possible is | | | | summed it up best when he said, "Success is a |
| best. | | | | journey, not a destination. The doing is often more |
| You're not going to hit every shot perfectly. I heard the | | | | important than the outcome. |