Playing Tennis, Writing Books, Creating Paintings

At the Tennis Center

For years, I spent my summers on local tennis courts. Day after day in the brutal mid-day sun, I battled opponents in mostly singles matches. That was my passion.

Yesterday, my daughter, Alicia, and I played in the 19th Annual Charity Tennis event at the College of William and Mary Tennis Center in Williamsburg, VA. Although we didn't win, we fought hard and ended with a two-hour-long match that rekindled my passion for competitive play.

Money raised from the tournament goes to the very important charities, Avalon and Casa. As a freelance writer for the Newport News Daily Press, I have written many stories about these worthy groups in past years. I congratulate the people who worked so hard to make this year's event a great success.

The tournament brought back many memories of past tennis events--local tournaments, Mother-Daughter USTA matches in Florida, etc. However, it also made me think about writing books and creating paintings as other passions. Which of these is most important? I don't know.

Is life a balancing act split between many passions? I know that my years on the tennis courts and aerobics floors have been good for my health. Writers spend far too many hours in front of a computer screen. Thankfully, painting can be more physical because I don't like to paint sitting down.

What are your passions? How do you balance them in your life?

Mary Montague Sikes