Monday Musings, Monday, March 30, 2020. 

Hi Everyone, 

Craig O’Shannessy’s site today has a picture of Roger and Novak accepting their trophies at Wimbledon. He goes on to talk about how important the return of sever is. In 2019 Wimbledon, 39% of the Men’s first server were unreturned, 28% of the women’s. 20% of the men’s second serves, 17% of the women’s. 32% of the men’s points (OMG, a third of the points!), and 24% of the women’s points (OMG, a quarter of the points!), were just a serve, and that is it. No return even hit in the court. So, it really important that you work on your serve, AND your return. The two most important shots.  

Now back to that picture of Roger and Novak. It’s an interesting photo, with Novak looking down at what he just won, a bit bemused, and Roger looking confidently and composed ahead, with the runner up trophy. Sort of like the appreciation is just sinking in for Novak. And Roger is OK with who he is, though I’m sure he wanted to win. “Winning isn’t everything, but wanting to win is.” – Vince Lombardi. 

We just don’t have control over a lot of things in life. And that is a huge lesson right now. We don't always win, and much is out of our control. Yet we continue to do our best. And our best is different for different people. Sometimes it is hard to understand how what someone else is doing, is their best, especially if you disagree with their actions. But each person does what they are capable of. 

And we try to improve. And improvement happens when it is time, and we can’t always force it. Or ever force it. 

Just changing our attitudes, our beliefs about things, can make all the difference. We don’t need to be on the court to make a big change in our games, or our lives. The return of serve is the second most important shot, and it is the least practiced shot in tennis. Right now, sitting at our computers, reading this, we can change our attitude about this crucial moment in tennis. When we return to the court, to return, we can start on a new, better path. We can practice our return. 

We can commit to making more returns: short backstroke, contact out in front, small release. Block (catch) with a follow through (release). Target down the middle to make more returns (bigger court, lower net). Make more shots. On the second serve return you can be a bit more aggressive. 

It is hard for me not to play tennis, and even harder still not to teach it. But these are the times, and within the times, are the lessons we are supposed to learn. 

I am reminded of the Rules for Being Human, which I heard from Dan Millman (author of The Way of the Peaceful Warrior). I find helpful. 

1. You will receive a body

You may like it or hate it, but it will be yours the entire period. 

2. You will learn lessons.

You are enrolled in a full-time informal school called Life. Each day in this school you will have the opportunity to learn lessons. You may like the lessons or think them irrelevant and stupid. 

3. There are no mistakes, only lessons. 

Growth is a process of trial and error: experimentation. The “failed” experiments are as much a part of the process as the experiments that ultimately “work.” 

4. A lesson is repeated until learned. 

A lesson will be presented to you in various forms until you have learned it. When you have learned it, you can then go on to the next lesson. 

5. Learning lessons does not end.

There is no part of life that does not contain its lessons. If you are alive, there are lessons to be learned. 

6. “There” is no better than “here.”

When your “there” has become a “here”, you will simply obtain another “there” that will again look better than “here.”

7. Others are merely mirrors of you.

You cannot love or hate something about another person unless it reflects something you love or hate about yourself. 

8. What you make of your life Is up to you. 

You have all the tools and resources you need. What you do with them is up to you. The choice is yours.

9. Life is exactly what you think it is. 

You create a life that matches your beliefs and expectations.

10. The answers lie inside you.

The answers to life’s questions like inside you. All you need to do is look, listen and trust. 

11. You will forget all this

12. You can remember it whenever you want.  

I don’t know about you, but I’m going through huge continental shifts inside of me in this time of crisis. Much is at the subconscious level. Huge changes, many that I can’t begin to comprehend. The lessons seem accelerated, and it is the big ones that come up. And I know I have changed. Grown. 

What can we do for the world, for each other, for ourselves? These are big questions. For a lot of us, it is Shelter in Place. Practice social distancing, stay as safe as we can. Survive, and allow others to survive too. Try not to hurt myself, try not to hurt others. 

Second is support each other. The social isolation, while not as deadly as the virus, is devastating for so many people. We are used to getting together with our friends, playing tennis, socializing, and now we are often at home. Some are alone, some just with one person, or their family. We are social beings, and this crisis calls for innovative ways to connect. 

I know of many people that are doing a virtual happy hour, or virtual book club, or virtual dinner party with their friends. I know families spread all across the country that are “getting together” on line. FaceTime, ZOOM, these are amazing things. Orindawoods is a club, and even if we can’t be together, we can stick together. Check in with your tennis buddies. 

Exercise is important as well. Getting out and walking in the neighborhood has been so great for me. For my physical, as well as mental health. Not to mention riding the Peloton bike, or doing Pilates, or TRX at home. We all have something we love to do. Do it! 

And doing something brings you into the present, but also takes you forward, is a bright spot as well. I have been learning guitar. I’m terrible, but I have always wanted to play. I have heard stories where Jimmy Page, or Eric Clapton, or other great masters basically locked themselves in a room for a year and just played all the time. I don’t think the conditions were the same, but we are locked in a room for a while, so learn something you want to learn, and haven’t had time. Haven’t made the time. 

Why not? Don’t worry, I won’t be playing any songs for you any time real soon. But some day. 

Finally, do something that puts you in your happy place. In the place that you feel most connected to yourself, spirit, and the world. It’s from this place, that we make the best decisions, take care of ourselves, and each other, in the best of all possible ways. 

Miss you all, wish you all the best. Stay safe, stay healthy, do your part. 

“I travel everywhere looking, looking breathlessly for paths with a heart.” – Carlos Castenada

Blessings, 

- Keith