How can you tie in your favorite game to the beginning of a new year. I can simply by saying that I'll find a way to spend more time on tennis even if it means writing about it, and less time on the world and the problems that exist out there. Will others think less of me. Maybe, but should I care as long as somehow by teaching others the way of the racket and how to get joy from this game I am somehow improving the world. I am on balance increasing happiness out there simply by teaching those things I have learned to make the game more enjoyable.
Speaking of resolutions, I like this article that mentions Jimmy Connors as the example of how to change and how to face up to your opponent which is in this case your resolutions and your failure to follow through on them. The writer mentions a number of Connors quotes and how he will use them to improve his tennis and life. The one thing he resolved is that he will try to chase down every ball.
Anybody that played tennis with me knows that was my approach learned from the great Laver learned from the great Hopman and probably learned by Hopman by someone lost in tennis history. Regardless, we can resolve that while the whole world may be coming apart in so many ways there is one place where you can find a respite. It exists on a higher plane and truthfully to me going out on the court is much like changing dimensions where as a parallel universe I know the others exist but here on the court this is all that matters when occupying that space. It is a way of communing with your existence outside of the normal boundaries and instead facing only those laws that govern tennis, those physical laws.
Find your own way to get more than exercise from a sport and for me I have found it even when practicing solo, I can work towards my own precision and in so doing separate myself from those things that take away from enjoyment of life.
Happy New Year to everyone I know and those of you that share my love of this game.
Here is my Facebook Tennis Resolution to all of my friends.
Happy New Year.
Resolution: Learn to hit two serves from one toss. This may take a while and I'm pretty sure it's not legal.
I did learn to hit a left handed slice serve last year when my right shoulder was out for a while. Three years ago I learned that I could serve with my eyes closed. That comes in really handy when playing in the dark or blindfolded. You never know.
