this wasn't in the plan |but life is still pretty good

During my high school tennis days, I had a wonderful coach. Besides helping me with backhand and serve, she also taught me lessons in integrity and respect. I learned the importance of doing what's right even when no one is watching. To warm up for practice, we ran four laps around the track. She often watched us to make sure we ran (and didn't walk) all of the laps. But she didn't need to. We knew it was what we needed to do, we knew she trusted us to run and we did. She taught me how wonderful and inspiring it is to have someone believe in you. She taught me that even if you don't like someone, you should still respect her. And after 33 years of teaching at the school, she has retired. How grateful I am that she chose the path she did, that she was a part of my life. Thanks, Coach.

Photo by DCMatt via Flickr