It's supposed to be fun, right?

As a teacher, I am always trying to find something that inspires me for class. I stumbled upon this quote yesterday, and rather than thinking about my classroom, my thoughts instantly streamlined into tennis, and life in general (I know, super philosophical). 

“Promise me that you will not spend so much time treading water and trying to keep your head above the waves that you forget, truly forget, how much you really love to swim.”

I thought back to my playing days, when I was so tired of tennis, so tired of losing, so tired of sore muscles and arguments with myself that ended in teary eyes. Then I thought about players now. Sometimes it feels like your fight is your own fight and you have no one that understands you, and really gets your frustration, your love hate relationship with this game.  I disagree, because I guarantee that every coach at Seminole High Performance has once felt what you have felt as a player, and understands the quote above, how sometimes it gets so hard that we forget that tennis, is, in fact, a game, and it is supposed to be fun. I know, huge revelation, right? So when you are about to bang your racquet, give up on trying, or are frustrated to the point of tears, remember how much you really love the game. 

It’s true for every aspect of life—I wrote a blog about equilibrium a little while ago and how everything needs balance. There is such thing as drinking too many vitamins, having too much fun, working too hard. Sometimes it takes a day off from tennis to understand the game better, to rest your head and your muscles enough to get back to the court the following day a little more clearheaded rather than so clouded with frustration that focusing on anything at all. 

So don’t forget your roots—why you started this game, what you love about it, and what will always be a part of your life. Because if you are competitive as a junior player, you know that tennis is more than a hobby—it is an essential part of your life, but even that essential part of your life is supposed to be fun.