Mental Toughness, A Life Lesson

Federer outlasts Roddick and wins a dramatic victory in the longest match played at Wimbledon. How did he do it, how did Roddick hang in there? Mental Toughness, focus, are all synonyms for the same thing. Our ability to continue to move forward when our body says no.

This is not something unique to tennis. It is necessary in all sports and in life. The runner who hits "a wall", the boxer who "runs out of gas", the pitcher who has "no stuff", are all examples of an inner drive, a force which pushes us to rise to the occasion. Even non athletes face these challenges in life, whether its school, business or health. The ability for families to survive when the economy says no.

Many times a patient is given a poor prognosis. You need an amputation, you will never run again; one year later the patient is in a road race. You have 6 months to live, and 2 years later the patient is still alive and well.

A drive to succeed, a drive to survive, a drive to persevere is in all of us, not just athletes. We need to find this strength and utilize it in all we do. We all have the ability to move forward when obstacles are put in our way. We can be satisfied with just being there or rise to the occasion. Roddick was not just satisfied, to be in a fifth set, he rose to the Moment. He just fell short, but he can always hold his head up high. He gave everything he had when his body said otherwise.

As sport fans and members of society, we should always try and rise to the occasion. Take the lessons from sports, school or work and apply them to help uplift others.

Tennis Racquets for Kids.org does this on a regular basis. Whether its bringing encouragement to those that need a positive word, or collecting racquets and distributing them to those who are less privileged, this tennis charity is there for everyone. While the country is in a recession, many individual requests from families who want to put their kids in a park program, but have no racquets, have been honored. An old Wilson, Head, Prince, Babolat, Yonex tennis racquet is a special gift to someone in need. Help us , help others in their quest to play the game of tennis, when the economy or the environment says no. Break from your daily routine, to take the modest time, to help others.