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.
