77.5%

I was playing tennis with Coach Tommy the other day and feeling fine in my little white dress, visor, mask-around-the-neck  look.  At a certain point I became very, very tired.  I started a string of mis-hits, I let a few balls double-bounce without even trying to get them on the first bounce.  Eventually I said, “That’s gotta be time, no?”

“No,” He called from the other side of the court.  “It’s not time.  When I’m in a match and I get tired I just give it 80% instead of 100%.  Why don’t you try taking it a little easier and go for 80%?”

I shook my arms and legs out, rolled my shoulders, and returned to the baseline where for the better part of an hour I’d been smacking the ball as if every whack were a direct blow to all the causes of suffering in the world.  As if all my frustrations with everything and everyone could be resolved by punishing the yellow orb full force.

I returned with the thought, “80%.”  And I went 80%, and then 70%, and then 60%, and I was returning  everything, even the big, heavy speedballs coming at me.  Not hitting any winners, but staying in the game, not needing to quit.  

And then I found a rhythm and brought it up to about 77.5%, where it felt like everything slowed down to a manageable, even pleasant pace.  And I stayed there, just moseying around the court, here, now there, now there, following the ball, staying with it. Easy.

Consistent power came to me from I don’t know where and it was fun.  I called to Tommy, “I’m at about 77.5% right now but I’ll work up to 78%.”

Coach said, “78% might not be better.”

And we played it out right there, back and forth, until it really was time.  I’m gonna keep going.

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