Most who know me at least a bit would label me as an introvert. Yet, I started a tennis group this summer. I thought the journey was interesting and worth a share
Know yourself
I picked up a racket for the first time in 2022. Towards the middle of Spring this year, I would sometimes get a text invite from a friend but at least a couple times, walking by after the kid drop-off I’d see that group playing and wonder why I wasn’t invited. Many times, I tried to get folks to play with me, but for differing and quite reasonable reasons, it never seemed to work out.
The tennis wall in the park became my friend, perhaps a bit more. With the goal of fitness and fun, the gym was not for me. Without many friends in town I took very basic steps to just get out of the house in the morning – in the beginning it was just “fast-walking” for 20/30 mins through the park. Yea, I sweat easily so anyone see me would swear I’m putting in 110%.
Walking past the courts and seeing guys play and not getting the invite though, it hit me. Man, I suck at tennis, that must be why. I let the feeling run its course, bit of sadness of wanting to be included and feeling just a little left out. I know there was absolutely no ill intent behind it. Those are great guys! Yet I couldn’t shake the idea out of my head that I was not good enough.
Explore actions
What I did next was probably ridiculous. I carved out roughly an hour a day (yes, with work and family this is a challenge) and made sure I was at the park & courts, fully intending some combination of blasting the wall or crazy intense walking. And, if I saw folks on the wall or court, I’d ask to join. It’s a bit cringey I suppose but I had to try something. This turned out to be the beginning of “sunlight through clouds”. It was not a moment, it took time. But I had to put myself out there for there to be any type of change
Find your groove over time
So fast-forward a few months, I am now part of a couple local Whatsapp tennis groups in town. I know I still suck (at least for now) but as the weeks pass by I enjoy seeing the improvement. And, I’m ok with that. I’m slowly getting better at a sport which I never conceived being good enough for a little fun. Most importantly, I met some great folks this summer and I know I’m seen