A birthday present to myself? I’ll spend more time with folk I like
Ihave been over in New York for a couple of weeks, a city I have come to know pretty well over the 16 years the boys have been competing in the US Open.
The grand slams last for two weeks and are mentally challenging, whether you are playing, coaching or supporting. It’s tough to keep your energy and concentration up and, in the final few days of the tournament when the player areas are almost deserted, it’s easy
to psychologically switch off. But for the players it’s the business end of the event and the most important bit.
So, I’ve had to learn to maintain my focus and energy through the last stretch, as I did this past week for Jamie.
But if you’re wondering how I’m spending my 60th birthday today, I’ll be unpacking from my flight – quickly rescheduled after he made yesterday’s mixed doubles final – and getting together with my Dunblane-based family.
I’m not one for parties, so I’ll have several low-key celebrations with friends over the next few months.
When I was in my 20s and 30s, I thought 60 was ancient. That was the time of life when women reached pensionable age and retired.
But this is a different world now and my work with young people has helped me maintain a youthful outlook on life.
Being involved in sport obviously keeps me active and, over the past 10 years, thanks to the variety of fun things I’ve had the chance to do and all the new people I’ve met from different walks of life, my outlook has definitely changed.
With this new decade comes a sense of excitement and opportunity. It’s “me time”, so my world will no longer revolve around tennis.
There are other things I would like to do and places I’d like to see. I intend to cut back on work that no longer challenges me and helps me grow, or where there is negativity, or if I don’t see a return on investment for my time.
So today I’m saying goodbye to the things that frustrate me, to the energy sappers and those who lack ambition.
Instead, I’ll be spending more time with family and friends and focusing on the people, projects and places that inspire me.