From Girly Girl to Fitness Fanatic
Growing up, I wasn’t much of a sporty girl (dare I say a girly girl?). I was that kid usually chosen last for sports, never climbing trees or perfecting a cartwheel like everyone else. I suppose I was afraid of failing—impatient, wanting immediate results. It all looked easy, but it took practice.
That changed in my early twenties when I discovered Jane Fonda (yes, I’m dating myself!). Aerobic classes became my passion. Fitness and music were the perfect match, and I was good at it—so good that I became an instructor and taught for 20 years!
A New Love Game: Taking Up Tennis Again
Fast forward to now—I’ve met my guy, an avid tennis player (who, I might add, looks smashing in his tennis whites!). So what’s a girl to do? Take tennis lessons, of course!
Tennis has always fascinated me—a sport literally built around the word “love.” So it has to be great, right? I took my first tennis lesson at the age of ten. I wasn’t terrible, but I wasn’t great either. Though I had lessons over the years, I never had the chance to truly play or improve.
The Challenge of the Little Green Ball
Watching professional players glide across the court so gracefully makes it look effortless. But let me tell you—it’s not! Getting that little green ball over the net was far from easy. So here I am, 45 years later, giving it another go.
My tennis instructor (bless him) has his work cut out for him. “Hand, hip, catch—keep your elbow in!” he reminds me. My backhand is a two-handed grip, essentially a left-handed forehand. “Draw the sword, swing, and look over your left elbow! Now put it all together while looking elegant!” he says. LOL! I’m trying to!
I love my tennis lessons, and I’ve come a long way, proving I can do this. Very exciting – for the first time, I feel confident on the court. And yes, there will always be someone better, and that’s okay. Now that I have the right tools, I’m ready to take my game to the next level.
“Practice! Practice! Practice!”
Finding Confidence and Purpose
Now that I can confidently hit the ball, serve, and return, it’s a great feeling of accomplishment. However, I still have a long way to go before I reach a level where I feel confident playing a proper match. But it shows that if you put your mind to something and commit, everything else will fall into place. I’ve had many moments lately thinking about a few ambitions and agonizing about “Why am I doing this?”
It would be so easy to throw in the towel. That said, I need to stop listening to those outside noises. I am good enough. It’s essential to have a purpose and be validated for those efforts. Plain and simple, we want to be rewarded when we work hard towards a goal.
Earning the Skirt: A Metaphor for Growth
“Earning the skirt” became my personal mantra. It’s not just about wearing a tennis skirt; it’s about earning it—putting in the time and dedication to feel worthy of it.
Now, I can proudly say I’ve earned mine. The tennis skirt is my reward—the cherry on top of my effort and persistence. Will it make me a better tennis player? Too soon to tell. But it definitely gives me confidence—and maybe even a little edge when playing with my guy. 😉
Hmmmm… this topic sounds familiar. Why? My girl is learning to play tennis, so she can play with me. Now, she is taking it slow, is a little afraid to get out on the court with me. She watched me play quite a bit the past few weeks, as my son and I were partners for a league, then the tournament that followed. We won together two years ago, then I won again last year with another partner. My son couldn’t make the final match of this year’s tournament, but my fill in partner played well and managed to lose in a tie breaker (after being up 4-0 in the final set). Great to see you so happy and healthy!