It’s Just A Point
Become Possessed: Roger Federer
Roger Federer is one of the greatest tennis players of all time.
20 Grand Slam titles. A true wizard with a not so magical wand. Light-footed and elegant, yet powerful and tactical. From the stands, he makes the game look easy.
But even the greats have low moments — losses, frustrations, and tears — just like us.
That’s why we, as mere mortals, should study how champions like Federer handle the rollercoaster.
In 2024, Dartmouth hosted Federer for its commencement speech. One line has been stuck in my head since I first heard it:
“It’s just a point.”
Maybe you hit the shot of your life.
Maybe you whiff the easy one.
Maybe you slack off.
Maybe you find flow.
It’s still just a point. Win or loss.
Don’t let winning the battle distract you from winning the war.
Don’t let losing the battle keep you from winning the war.
Move on. Forget. Be present.
“Be a goldfish.”
— Ted Lasso
You won’t win everything.
You’ll bomb the interview.
Crash the car.
Send the email with a typo.
“The world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows. It’s a very mean and nasty place… You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain’t about how hard you hit — it’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward… that’s how winning is done.”
— Rocky Balboa
Get up. Stay positive. Keep moving.
As Roger says: “Negative energy is wasted energy… the best don’t expect to win every point. They know they’ll lose, but they’re really good at dealing with it. Accept it, cry it out if you need to, then force a smile.”
Be resilient.
Bounce back.
Onward and upward, always.
Thanks for reading. Godspeed.
—Dante
Things That Have Possessed Me This Week:
Song: What We On - JID, Don Toliver
Idea: Sometimes you need to sprint, sometimes you need to walk
Food: Red Onion