be positive

The freshly painted tennis court seared my tired, burning eyes. I looked around and saw other young girls my age warming up their serves. This was the first day of the two day tournament that my country club hosts for young tennis players.  The good weather could not stop the sick feeling from creeping into my stomach. I did not want to play today. A wave of anxiety washed over me as I watched some of the girls hitting spectacular shots. I had no idea why I was even here, I was not good enough to compete with these girls. The negative thoughts kept coming at me like an avalanche. All of the girls were wearing bleached white tennis shoes with the nike swoosh emblazoned on the sides. They were decked out in expensive designer clothes etched with elaborate designs. Their shiny racquets glistened in the early morning sun. I felt my heart sink as I looked down at my scraped racquet and muddy shoes.
I was called to the net to start my first match. I clenched my racquet with my clammy hands and tried to keep calm as I observed my opponent. She was at least four inches taller and wider than me and made of all muscle. I felt my mouth go dry as I observed her looming appearance. I did not stand a chance.
She won the spin which meant she had to serve the first point of the match. As she coiled back to strike the ball, I felt myself freeze. The impact of the shot nearly took my arm off. The rest of the match followed the same line. I played awfully and I did not have a single good shot all day. She ended up beating me eight games to zero.
I felt disappointment fill me as I walked off the court. A prickly flame burned my cheeks and I felt a shallow feeling in my chest.
When I finally got home all I wanted to do was forget about the dreadful match and withdraw from tomorrow but my parents would not let me.
My dad said, "It does not matter how you played, it just matters that you tried your best. Also remember that a positive attitude is the most important thing you can have."
Normally I would roll my eyes at my dad's generic advice. This time I actually took it into consideration.
The next day was even prettier than the day before. The vibrant colored courts welcomed me. A warm breeze touseled my hair and made me smile. I kept thinking about my dad's advice as I warmed up. I was at ease and my shot was nice and compact.
I was called to the net for my match again. I was playing the exact same girl as yesterday, only today something was different. Her vast frame was not as intimdating. I was also blind to her elaborate clothes and racquet. Her starting shot was no longer hard and fast like a bullet. I quickly found my rhythm and I ended up beating the girl five games to three.
This experience taught me how powerful a mindset can be. Everytime I start feeling negative energy creep into my thoughts I think back to how different the outcomes of the two matches were because of my attitude. I believe that almost always, a positive mindset makes good things happen.