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Show and needs encouragement to push the gas pedal again, thought Kim. "Your only enemy is your nerves. Nerves can throw your whole game off. I'll show you how to fix that." Pilar's head was still lowered, but her eyes looked up showing interest in what Kim was saying. "Tighten your muscles," Kim said. A bewildered look came across Pilar's face. "Really, it works. I've done it lots of times in ballet. Try it." The muscles in Pilar's face contracted, leaving deep ridges in her forehead. At last, Kim was getting someplace. "That's right. Now let go." The lines disappeared. "Great! Now do the same thing again." Pilar repeated the process. "Relax...tighten...relax...tighten...Pilar obeyed on command, as if hypnotized. "See how loose your muscles feel?" Pilar nodded. "In order for you to shoot your best, your muscles need to feel just that relaxed. And I'll give you another tip. Right before you shoot, say, "No big deal." Pilar's face wrinkled into a question. "I always say that when I've got something real hard to do. It helps me loosen up if I tell myself it's not that important. Try it." 109 |