As I touched on in the last article, all of us are united in our love for table tennis. This makes for a community with immeasurable potential. We have so many wonderful people that could be linked together in our JOOLA family, and there is so much we can do for each other that we haven’t done yet.

We should feel honored to be part of such an amazing family full of passionate and exceptional people that constantly strive for excellence. I know that it’s hard living the way we are currently, and that we don’t know when we can go back to our daily lives, but let’s take some time to think about what we have or can gain from these circumstances. After all, life isn’t just about what’s happening; it’s about how we grow and change from our experiences. It’s about what we learn as time passes and we become wiser.

For instance, I don’t think that I have been able to truly appreciate table tennis until now. I was so busy giving myself pressure and setting expectations that I didn’t take time to just feel the exhilaration and excitement that comes from the sport. Being so caught up in anything or worrying relentlessly about the future without taking time to appreciate the present is a critical mistake I made without even realizing. Without this pandemic, I would never have learned that. Despite the many losses we have faced as a result of coronavirus, I think that I have learned to truly be grateful for what I have and to never let go of my opportunities…because who knows? I might not find another one for a long time.

In the meantime, however, let’s make sure to treat this as an opportunity to express our appreciation for everything we can learn and gain from the pandemic. Let’s think about everything table tennis continues to do for us. You might think, now that I can’t play as much or at all, what’s the point? There’s no way I can get better! However, there is most definitely a silver lining, and we must always keep that in mind. For instance, I know that no matter what happens, table tennis will be something in my life that doesn’t change. Sure, I might not be able to play as much as before, but I know that I will always love the sport. No matter how much my rating might drop, I know that I will continue playing for the rest of my life. Table tennis is something that has molded into my personality. It will always be a part of me, and I couldn’t have asked for anything more.

Having one factor that is kept constant is an anchor; it’s a symbol of security that only table tennis can give me. When everything in our lives is changing, we are constantly having to adapt. Table tennis, however, is the lifelong friend we will have by our side. The trustworthy friend we can depend on in times of need.

In addition, no matter how depressed we may feel or how stressed we may be, we can be certain that table tennis and our community will be there for us every step of the way. With that being said, let’s appreciate everything we can do, not everything that we can’t.

For instance, I am very privileged to be healthy. I am grateful I can spend more time with my family. I have opportunities to go outside to take a walk or go on a run, and I also have space in my home to exercise. There are so many things I can do…it’s not worth it to dwell on what I can’t change.

When we focus on what we can change and what we can control, we find ourselves less worried about those external factors that we must deal with. By acknowledging that those factors will be there no matter what, we can appropriately adapt to our situation. This makes it even more important for us to be appreciative for what we have and to be aware of our own feelings. When we sense we may be feeling overwhelmed, gratitude can help us reconnect and calm down. Taking time to spend time with family members and community members (safely) can help all of us decompress.

As a call to action, we should all think about what we can do during this time and appreciate the certainty we have in our lives. We can get through this if we are grateful and hopeful.