It’s no secret I’m not that much of an athlete. I really love being active but I missed the hand-eye co-ordination team sport gene and since I can remember, I was that kid picked near the end for sports. (The agony!) I’ve always assumed “I’m not good at sports” and I’ve faithfully lived up to my belief but there are some, that despite my skill level, I adore. Namely, tennis.
I played growing up, high school, had regular lessons, dabbled in university, my 20’s, always a little, never consistently. But it was always there. As my sport. The one I didn’t play frequently, but mine nonetheless. I owned a racket after all!
This has been the surprising summer of rediscovering and playing tennis. I have a fabulous partner to hit the ball with, take lessons and attend a weekly clinic. I’m all in. The suffocating smoke that has descended on our town has temporarily derailed outside playing but I’ve found indoor courts. If I’m not playing this week, I’m watching. The US Open has never been more exciting and action packed! Is this an obsession? Maybe. And that’s ok. I like obsessions when they lead me down the path of joy and distraction. When I started painting regularly I was absolutely obsessed. Still am. To me, these are the human green lights on our highway. Keep going. Rev the engine. Hit that ball!
It’s also been a summer of challenges. Unexpected expenses, major household repairs, brutal fires all around us, hazardous smoke and close friends moving away. And that’s before I turn on the TV and watch the devastation happening in Texas, Florida, the world, the orange person in charge. I’m a piece of sand compared to what’s going on globally.
During these times, I’m trying to rise to the challenge & continue to follow the obsessive joy markers when I can. I notice myself needing to fill up the well more frequently. My nerves are frayed. The gentle quirky little life I have here packing orders, painting commissions, going to trade shows, selling my wares, all feels a bit tender.
So might as well smash some tennis balls, hang out at Court 4 and pretend, for just a moment, that I’m Maria Sharapova. xo
