The Heart Game

by SueBelle Robbins

Love means nothing in tennis, but everything in life. Your relationships may last a week, a year, or a lifetime, but it’s the human connection that makes for the perfect match.

I’ve always believed that love—whether it’s romance, friendship, or a fleeting moment of connection—is what keeps life interesting. Sometimes you meet someone and feel an instant spark. You want to know them, and you hope they feel the same. That’s love. It’s not always grand or dramatic—sometimes it’s quiet, but real.

I have this theory: My heart is a hotel. A “Heart Hotel.” Some people stay in the penthouse. Others pass through a cozy studio. But every love leaves something behind—something that shaped me, made me laugh, or reminded me I’m still capable of being surprised.

Love also shows up in small gestures: a call just to check in; a handwritten note; someone remembering how you take your coffee. These quiet moments of kindness are love in motion—reminders that we are seen, appreciated, and never alone in the world.

A friend once told me you can have someone in your life for five days or five decades—it depends on the connection. And the best kind of friend? The one you don’t see for years, but when you speak again, it feels like no time has passed. That kind of ease is rare—and worth holding on to.

What I’ve learned is that love changes. It softens, deepens, and shifts with time. Some rooms in my Heart Hotel are quieter now, but they’re never empty. When love is real, it leaves the light on.

And remember, while love may mean nothing in a tennis game, it means in everything in life and in friendship.