I have been playing USTA tennis, mixed doubles, the last couple of months, and this Saturday was our last match for the season. As our team was waiting to take to the courts the team captain approaches me and says
I don't want you to get down on yourself so much. This is only a game.
So I'm thinking she must have talked to my regular partner Marnie. So I said.
Have you been talking to Marnie?
And she had.
I love the game and I always play hard and when I miss a easy shot that should be a no brainier I get down on myself about it. It passes in seconds but right after the fu-k up I am ready to, find a tallest building in town, climb the stairs to the top floor and jump off. That's me in nut shell. And my partner Marnie is always talking to me, trying to talk me off the ledge.
It's OK it's one shot, it's not the end of the world
Put down that razor blade
Take the gun out of your mouth.
Get off the chair and take the rope from around your neck.
For mothering me all through the match I am now calling her 'mom'.
It was a real eye opener, for me, in that I thought nothing about it "that's just me" being me. But I must be affecting my partners with my actions. Sure carrying a gun, razor blades and a hangman's rope in my tennis bag is a little off putting, but hey that's just me.
So I am now trying to control my emotions when I miss a really easy shot that drives me completely crazy. I am trying to be positive around my partner and not let her see the craziness, as I,unnoticed, bite down on my tongue and imaging your pal....me, beating myself with a old 1970's Wilson T2000 metal racket till unconsciousness sets in........Ahhhhhh that's better.
2 comments:
Don't want to waste that mental energy Willie. And if you're making your partner tense, that's wasted energy on their part too. Now get out there and KICK SOME ASS!
I always feel that way but I would probably get arrested.
Post a Comment