Do you love tennis? I do! I don't play but there is a lot to learn from watching the games, especially the keenly contested Grand slam matches.

The U.S Open is currently on-going. Covid has only kept the spectators away, the game is still going strong.

So this weekend saw an interesting match between two beautiful and talented black female players - Sloane Stephens (27 yrs old and 26th seed) and the almighty Serena Williams (38 yrs old and 3rd seed).

In this match, we saw Sloane Stephens rattle her idol, Serena Williams, taking her down in the first set with a 6-2 win. We saw Serena stretched, and almost frustrated as Sloane effortlessly hit winners and forced the older, heavier tennis star to run around the court, chasing her amazing strikes.

I am a Serena fan, and I honestly felt her pain. But when the second set got to 2-2, on the third point, with Serena about to serve, she turned her back to the cameras and I imagined she was speaking these words to herself "You've got this Serena. You can win this."

The change was immediate! She came on like a charged bull and Sloane did not see this Serena coming. She won the next point (3-2), and went on to break Sloane in her serve (4-2), then took her own serve (5-2) and within minutes, she had taken the set 6-2! Oh and from then she was on a roll. Serena, that is.

Before the turn around of the match, Sloane had had 18 winners and 7 errors, as compared to Serena's 17 winners and 18 errors. At the time it would seem that Serena was out and Sloane certainly had the game, with only 4 points to go.

YET, Serena didn't give up, she dug in and called on her inner strength and took the game 2-6, 6-2, 6-2.

BECAUSE IT IS NEVER TOO LATE TO CHANGE THE GAME.

Because it is not over till it is over!

Are you currently falling behind at life's game? Do you feel like there's no point; you'll never make it because you're too far behind? Do you feel you're at an unfair disadvantage because your opponents are younger, more fit? Or perhaps more experienced or with more resources?

Don't mentally check out of the game of life yet! Turn your back on the world, call on the inner reserves of your strength. Tell yourself YOU'VE GOT THIS. And then, face the challenge head on, and win!

All that you need to succeed is within you, you just need first to BELIEVE it. Then SEE it. Then go on and DO it. If you need someone to talk to, I'm here to help you on the journey. Because I know first hand what it feels like to think it's too late to change the game. And also what it feels like to go ahead and win.

It's another Monday, and I'm here rooting for you! Let's do this! Hit reply now.

With all my best wishes,

Brenda Unu