EEFORT - Maxwell served a double fault,…

EEFORT - Maxwell served a double fault, loosing the match. His opponent, one of the monks of the Bodhi Business Retreat, bowed and left the court. Max sank to his knees, chest heaving, sweat dripping from his brow.

Sports provided a quick means to put himself into a high-pressure situation. Unfortunately, most of the lessons of how not to choke at the critical moment still fled his mind at that critical moment. He'd gained some ground, but still didn't maintain his composure as consistently as he wanted.

On the tennis court, failure was a blow to his pride. In the board room, this flaw could cost Max his company. Tomorrow was his last day at the retreat. Best to get some rest so he could practice with another match, maybe two.

Max found his path off the court blocked by a full-grown tree that had not been there a moment earlier.

A monk appeared from the behind the trunk and handed Max a mango. "Well done. The wish-granting tree does not appear to everyone. Think of what you want to accomplish, then take a bite."

Max considered his options, then bit into the mango, smiling at the sweetness. As he swallowed, his surroundings faded to white, then solidified into the front of the retreat center.

"Welcome, Mr. Stein," a monk said, holding the door open for Max. "I hope you enjoy your two weeks with us. Much can be accomplished with dedicated practice and the willingness to learn."

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