Size is NOT everything...

     Good morning, Family...  I've missed talking to you.  I have soooooo much I want to say, but life and the things I have to do get in the way sometimes of the things that I really want to do.  But I needed to stop by and talk about this one.  I saw a news report about a beautiful young lady, Taylor Townsend.  If you are like me, I had never heard of her.  She's 18 years old, and a rising talent in the tennis game.  She is ranked #205 in the world.  She recently played in and won her first match in the Grand Slam series of tennis matches beating out the #20 ranked player.  Her winning was not what got my attention, but the fact that there was more comment about her size than her talents.  You see, she is not frail and emaciated looking.  Neither does she have a look like a muscle overloaded, steroid using athlete.  She is what I would call "stocky".  Remember, everyone is not going to be a size 2 or 4 or 6 or 8 or 12 or whatever.  Size is not everything...

      I was more than a bit pissed as I continued to listen to the news report say how she wasn't supported initially in her efforts to play on the tennis circuit because she was considered a "health risk".  All of my cursing came to the surface.  Including my 3-letter one--WTH?  So, the United States Tennis Association (USTA), cut funding, "refusing to pay Taylor's travel for the U.S Open Junior competition until she got into better shape".  My first question was, "what is better shape?"  Is My Size, Your Size?  Oh, that's right, because if you look at someone, you can tell they are out of shape?!? (huh?)

       Don't get me wrong, there are many times when you can make that immediate call that someone is out of shape by looking at them.  But keep this in mind...  At the time the USTA decided to do that in 2012, this young lady was the first American woman to make it to the Australian Open and not only that, she won the Australian Open Junior title. I don't know about you, but I am thinking that took some stamina, talent, and training.  According to the New York Times, the USTA felt her physical conditioning was lacking. (In the meantime, she was somewhere kicking all kinds of tennis butt...)  Rather than let someone else dictate HER situation, she paid her own fees and made it to the quarter-finals.  She also dropped her USTA coaches and moved on.

     Currently, she is being trained by former Wimbledon finalist, Zina Garrison and a coach she has worked with since she was 6 years old, Kamau Murray.  Garrison is quoted as saying, "I think she couldn't have asked for a better script.  It's made her tougher.  She's very good at taking the negative and turning it into a positive"...  I say, Kudos to Miss Taylor Townsend.  

     I have said many times in my posts, you have to know what works for you.  If working out 3 days a week is keeping you happy, fit, and healthy, go for it.  If working out 6 days a week is what you want to do, DO IT. Most importantly, DO YOU...Remember, size is NOT everything, [giggles]...  SMOOCHES...