Post by Tennislurker on Jun 3, 2005 9:10:33 GMT -5
Living Life On Clay
Mary Carillo By Mary Carillo
06/02/2005
Editor's note: Since Mary Carillo's piece "Living Life On Clay" aired on ESPN2 today, Tennis Week has received email from readers requesting the transcript. With ESPN's permission, we have posted the complete text of Mary Carillo's "Living Life On Clay" here.
I've got two teenage children, two quintessentially American kids, robust and strong, confident and pleasantly cocky kids who fully embrace the American dream. But my wish for them is to dream in different languages, to build a character that translates well everywhere in the world. I want them to live their lives as though they were playing them out on clay.
To know that not everyone who thinks, thinks alike.
To know that the ground will shift under their feet; that it pays to be flexible, and patient.
That lateral thinking is often rewarded, so try to look around the corners of your problems.
That small things are hard to do... but everything, everything counts.
There is something beautiful about trying your best, even if you fail. It's a badge of courage. If you get knocked off your moorings, try hard to find them again.
There is great comfort in consistency-always having someone, or something you can trust.
Life demands great discipline and deep daring
And a fatigued mind makes bad decisions.
Don't get easily depressed. It's amazing what a stout heart and a nimble mind can do if you're resilient enough to stay the course.
The reward is the journey.
More than anything I want my kids to know that there is nothing common about the common man.
This is as good a classroom as any, for tennis or life.
I want my kids to be clay courters.
Mary Carillo By Mary Carillo
06/02/2005
Editor's note: Since Mary Carillo's piece "Living Life On Clay" aired on ESPN2 today, Tennis Week has received email from readers requesting the transcript. With ESPN's permission, we have posted the complete text of Mary Carillo's "Living Life On Clay" here.
I've got two teenage children, two quintessentially American kids, robust and strong, confident and pleasantly cocky kids who fully embrace the American dream. But my wish for them is to dream in different languages, to build a character that translates well everywhere in the world. I want them to live their lives as though they were playing them out on clay.
To know that not everyone who thinks, thinks alike.
To know that the ground will shift under their feet; that it pays to be flexible, and patient.
That lateral thinking is often rewarded, so try to look around the corners of your problems.
That small things are hard to do... but everything, everything counts.
There is something beautiful about trying your best, even if you fail. It's a badge of courage. If you get knocked off your moorings, try hard to find them again.
There is great comfort in consistency-always having someone, or something you can trust.
Life demands great discipline and deep daring
And a fatigued mind makes bad decisions.
Don't get easily depressed. It's amazing what a stout heart and a nimble mind can do if you're resilient enough to stay the course.
The reward is the journey.
More than anything I want my kids to know that there is nothing common about the common man.
This is as good a classroom as any, for tennis or life.
I want my kids to be clay courters.
