Tag Archives: Basketball

After losing another tennis match, I felt angry, negative, and disappointed in myself. But one week later, I started to feel proud — not because I won, but because I kept showing up, saying yes to games, setting smaller goals, and learning how to enjoy progress. This post is about sports, losing, Kobe Bryant’s relentlessness, basketball, tennis, and applying the same courage to learning German.

I started learning tennis and basketball in Leipzig when I was 30, and both sports taught me more than I expected. From missing almost every ball on my first tennis day to learning basketball layups, dealing with losing, controlling my emotions, and staying present on the court, this post is about sports, friendship, mental strength, and the uncomfortable but beautiful process of improving.