How inspiring was it to see Kim Clijsters - the new US Open Women's Champion - return to New York and win on Sunday after beating both Williams sisters and teen sensation Caroline Wozniacki after only her third tournament since returning to the tour.
But the real story here is why Clijsters left competitive tennis at the top of her game almost three years ago. She has said that she didn't feel the passion for the sport that had propelled her to the top rankings in women's tennis. She wasn't enjoying tennis anymore and didn't feel the drive and commitment she needed to compete at that level. She took time off to have a child, spent time with her family and thoroughly enjoyed being with her daughter, Jada.
Somewhere along the way while training for a charity match she got "her game" back. She worked hard to make her come back - never dreaming that she would be the 2009 US Open Champion. She returned to the tour a different woman: more relaxed, balanced, mentally tougher - enjoying tennis and life. Her perspective on her life AND her game changed when she stepped back to see how competing in tennis fit into the overall picture of her life.
As professional women many of us struggle with similar issues; we wonder if it is possible to be fulfilled and successful in both our personal and professional lives. In today's demanding and competitive corporate environment we find ourselves doing more, not less...and maybe not doing any of it very well. We may not have the luxury Kim Clijsters did to take a formal "leave of absence" to get our passion and drive back, but we can all take time to step back and ask ourselves what is really important; to look at how we are taking care of ourselves and using physical fitness to give us the edge we need every day; and to gain the perspective we need to find our focus, passion and purpose so that we, too, can be "Women at the Top of Our Game."
