I am going to use a tennis analogy to describe where we are with COVID because it’s one of the things I know best:
Right now we are in the 3rd and final set of our tennis match. To this point we have lost the 1st set 6-4, won the second set in a tiebreaker and now it’s all tied up at one set a piece. We have come back in the final set to pull ahead 5-4 with one game left for the win!
Momentum is in our favor, our opponent appears tired and our shots are landing blow after blow to complete our comeback. Victory is in our sights and this is now the most important moment of the match, to play one point at a time.
In sports and in life, momentum is a fickle thing. While it can ride us to a great comeback and propel us towards “certain” victory it is always ready to swing the other way at a moments notice. If our competitor is as resolved as we are they will not give up the win without a fight. The worst thing an athlete can do in this moment is think they have it in the bag.
Now anyone who has ever been winning late in a game or tennis match knows that every point is now paramount. What happened in the past is behind us and the future is unknown. All we can do is play out each point with focus and vigilance to ensure whatever got us this far takes us over the finish line to the win.
This is not the time to let up. It’s not the time to get complacent and it’s not the time to start taking a victory lap; this is the time to close out the match! Dial in and focus. Give nothing up and make sure your opponent knows that every inch is going to feel like a mile until the final point is won.
Wear your mask, keep 6′, get vaccinated if you can, and hold off on high risk behavior just a bit longer. The next 8 weeks is going to determine if we close out the match for the win or if the virus ties it back up and then the match goes on and on. For non-tennis players, lets not drop the ball on the one yard line, trip before the finish line, or count our chickens before they’ve hatched.
I for one would like to focus now and close out the win. Let’s save our victory lap for once we have won and the final point has been played.
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8 Comments to "It’s Time to Close Out the Match!"
Alis says:
March 18, 2021 at 7:42 am -
Great analogy! Just got my second shot, but still planning on being vigilant!😷
Dan Doenges says:
March 18, 2021 at 1:01 pm -
Awesome, congratulations Alis!!!
skibrain says:
March 18, 2021 at 9:39 am -
oh, goodness, its my serve.
Dan Doenges says:
March 22, 2021 at 4:52 pm -
No way, Your serve is always on point.
Bill Ackerman says:
March 19, 2021 at 8:57 pm -
Great analogy Dan. Hang in there. It’ll come back.
Dan Doenges says:
March 22, 2021 at 4:51 pm -
Thanks Bill! Yes agreed just a bit longer to this finish line. Hope you are well.
Leslie A Bradley says:
March 22, 2021 at 4:38 pm -
Beautifully written! Let’s keep that ball in play!
Dan Doenges says:
March 22, 2021 at 4:51 pm -
Thanks Leslie! Yes!