Have you ever been ‘In the zone,’ as they say? I experienced it the other night at the beginning of the latest squash season. I was asked to fill in in a team about six grades higher than I usually play. That meant I had to play two matches on the same night.
I went on in the higher grade match first. In the warm up my opponent, younger, bigger and much more powerful when he hit the ball, looked a world-beater. It looked as if I was on a hiding to nothing.
Watching this fellow hit the ball as if he hated it and trying to get it back, the thought struck me. “this guy really likes to hit the ball hard and he has great reflexes. Maybe if I mix it up I might take some points off him.”
The match started and I hit the ball away from him as much as I could. Then it happened. I claim no credit for it at all. It was as if a switch went off in my head and I only focused on the single shot I was playing at the time.
All of a sudden the ball didn’t seem to be travelling as fast, I was able to get in good position and all my shots actually went where I wanted them to go. I even had to be told when the first game was over. I had focussed so hard I had no idea what the score was.
The next two games passed in exactly the same fashion and I won the match 3-0. My opponent was upset as he knew I was from a much lower grade and he had expected to have an easy match.
No one was more surprised then me when I won. The team members was astonished and, of course, pleased.
I went back to my own team and exactly the same thing happened. It was one of those nights. When I got home I thought about the night. What had been different?
Then I realised. I had been entirely in the present. I hadn’t thought about it at all. I simply focussed on the ball and hitting it where I wanted it to go. I was exhilarated at having control of my actions and really experienced the moment. Nothing else, just the moment.
The difference was I simply was. I was in the present and lived the experience to the fullest.
If only we could focus like that all the time. What an experience life would be then.
I invite you to the present. It’s a great time and, in fact, it’s the only time you have.
Regards,
Ollie Lind
