It’s getting harder and harder to come up with material that is targeted exclusively to table tennis enthusiasts. I could focus on equipment, but that would slowly drive me insane. There’s a shadow hanging over the world that table tennis players live under as well. It’s pretty hard to really fully enjoy any activity when you fear that your life might be in danger simply by showing up. Despite our best efforts, somewhere in the back of our minds we know that we might die because we decided to play ping pong. Worse yet, you might be walking around unwittingly murdering loved ones, table tennis buddies, or grocery store customers. How great is the risk? Who knows? Whether you’ve remained locked in your house or been partying like it’s 1999, there’s an element of fear with both approaches. Most of us are either afraid of dying or not ever getting to live; or you could be a real coward like me and be afraid of both.Â
The human race is full of cowards; and I am not only marching in that procession but carrying a banner. – Mark Twain
Even the bravest amongst us are still living under the cloud of a global pandemic. That means we’ve all got some tough decisions to make. Should we be playing table tennis at all? When, if ever, can I retire my mask? Am I too old to go out in public? How close is too close? You see. It’s not just one decision. Every second of the day is now consumed with life and death decisions. Those decisions can be based on the best science available, your own instincts, your political affiliation, your faith, peer pressure, or your mood on any particular day. It’s still your decision, and whatever direction you go there will be some kind of price to pay. I’m betting on a little common sense, a little science, and my own faith. Everyone’s recipe for survival will be different, but fear won’t help.Â
A coward dies a thousand times before his death, but the valiant taste of death but once. – William Shakespeare