In 2012 I interviewed Sam Querrey, a professional tennis player from Thousand Oaks, California. Sam had had more than his share of injuries, and was just about to make a comeback at a tournament in Los Angeles. But even with the best of preparation, his career did not quite reach the level that was equal to his earlier promise – until Saturday, July 2, 2016.

At Wimbledon, the sport of tennis’ most storied tournament, Sam endured rain delays and premature dismissal of his game by some commentators, and defeated the number one mens’ player in the world – Novak Djokovic.  Watching the tournament, I could not say that Djokovic played badly (he won the third set 3-6), but I can say that Sam played with stronger determination, well-developed skill, and more follow-through than his opponent.

Many of us, especially those who have endured injuries or illnesses that have set us back miles, can feel frustrated and hopeless about the future. A full comeback might seem far away, and the work it takes to regain even half of who we once were might seem too daunting to accomplish.

But stories like the one of Sam Querrey’s comeback remind us that sometimes, it takes longer than we imagined to regain our form. Sometimes, we have to go a few extra miles to arrive at a goal.

Sometimes, comebacks take time.

But they can and do happen.

Even if you are not a fan of the sport of tennis, I’m sure you can appreciate the feat of defeating a number one player on any stage. And I hope that you’ll take the lesson to heart – the only time a comback is impossible is if we give up before we achieve it.

Congratulations, Sam! And all the best as you move along and ahead at Wimbledon and beyond!

Here’s a link to my original interview:  http://www.beliefnet.com/inspiration/articles/sam-querry-the-art-of-a-comeback.aspx

Joy and peace,

Maureen