Krish Patel - Week #10 - Power On and Off the Court
One of the key factors responsible for what differentiates great tennis players from good tennis players is the ability to control power on the court. The ideal tennis shot is actually not whacking the ball as fast as you can and praying it will land inside the court. Instead, it is hitting the ball at just the right power while maintaining a high level of accuracy.
The same thing applies to real life as well. Power is born with every human being as every thing has some influence in our world whether it be from that one corner where you stub your toe to the government agencies that make laws for the world. Each person has the ability to make a change in the world; however, people need to realize that at some point they could overstep their boundaries and land themselves in some trouble.
An example is convicted felons. They had the natural ability to commit crimes; however, they took advantage of it and ended up in prison. The same thing applies to tennis as in the case of the felons, they used too much power and ended up making a mistake by hitting the ball out.
My dad has emphasized in our tennis lessons and I quote, “Power is a double-edged sword. It can help you overcome your opponents but it could also lead you to making critical errors.” This quote comes to my mind anytime I step on the court as it is not only a reminder to hit the ball with less power, but it also serves as a reminder to keep myself in check and not overstep my boundaries off the court.
The duality of power is something that guides me today. I recognize people who weaponize it and end up making enemies in their lives; however, there are those that only use their power to make a positive impact on the world. It is up to each individual to choose who they want to be.
Tennis Wallpapers, https://wallpapercave.com/tennis-wallpapers, Accessed on 26 Jan. 2025.
Hi Krish!
ReplyDeleteI really liked how you compared tennis to power in humans as well as the power to commit crimes to hitting the ball out. It gives a clear example of how these two things correlate in life. I agree that power is a double-edged sword, and could impact our lives positively as well as negatively. I believe that those who are able to fully control their power are the strongest people in society, regardless of their social status. Does your dad teach you tennis, or does he play with you? It seems nice that he is teaching you life skills from tennis that would expand and impact your future as well. However, there are lucky times that using too much power could benefit you as well. Both in sports and real life, but they don’t come by very often. When something like that happens, people might think they can recreate that lucky move, but could risk in a spiral of losses, in sports and in real life, like gambling. See you later today!
- Colin
Hey Krish, I really like your dad's quote and connection with power beyond tennis. I think the point of not overstepping your boundaries with power is key, but it is inherently difficult. When I was the SPL (youth leader) for my troop in BSA, I first thought being a leader meant taking control and making all of the decisions. I quickly realized however that power that is unbalanced, where the scouts themselves did not have a voice, is a quick recipe for frustration from my peers. I learned to create a balance, asserting my role as a leader while also gaining input from the scouts. It's important to know when to take a step back and when to grasp an opportunity. Sometimes it may be to your benefit to whack the ball as hard as you can, but the key point is to be cautious of the timing of when to do so. I'll keep your dad's quote in my mind for sure. Great post!
ReplyDeleteHi Krish! Your anecdote about tennis being a representation of power reminds me a lot about the words of my piano teacher. When you said “hitting the ball at just the right power,” I suddenly got a flashback to my teacher endlessly repeating to me that even if I’m able to hit the right notes at the right time, it’s not enough to be a great piano player, just as “whacking” a tennis ball isn’t enough to be a good tennis player. There is a specific touch that is necessary to achieve the perfect tone. Too light and the chords are not assertive enough. Too heavy and they are loud and dissonant to the ears, and the hands are prone to more mistakes. There is a certain level of control that is necessary for both activities. I found your analogy to felony really interesting, and it makes sense to look at moral boundaries to be like those of a tennis court. However, I do think that a lot of felons don’t commit crime just to see how far they can go without “getting out”–more so as a consequence of living conditions and environments, though I do see what you mean by some crimes being more of a display of power by the criminal. Another way to look at it is through politics, as the world has a history of rulers using their power both for total dominance and for the betterment of society (and in some rulers’ cases, it was both). I absolutely agree that power can be used for both moral good and evil (though people have different definitions of the two). There is a fine line between being respected for having power and being feared for misusing it. Thanks for sharing!
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