When I was a little girl, I learned to play tennis. My dad played semi-pro in Australia against some of the big Aussie tennis names and understood the value and fun of the game -- old school tennis, clay courts, tennis whites, wood rackets. Classic!
Lucky for me, my parents instilled that love for tennis in us kids as well. My sisters and I loved to play and I took that much further -- always had a racquet in my hand and as we moved from country to country, tennis was my sanctuary, my "go to place." A way to bond with new friends in new places with some common ground.
I played through high school -- chose cheerleading over tennis team (yes, admitting it!), through college, and always recreationally with friends and family.
And then it stopped ... just like that, life got in the way, and it wasn't until my boys were old enough that I had to get them on the court and get a racquet in their hands too. A life skill, sport and passion that I wanted them to have.
As I started to play here and there with them, it reminded me how much I loved and missed the game and vowed every time to keep playing ... but I didn't. Life got in the way.
They went to tennis camp every summer, played occasionally with friends and the occasional family trek to the court -- six blocks away -- happened.
I had "tennis envy" of everyone that played and still loved the game but everything else seemed to take precedent and I was doing all these other activities -- Zumba, Pilates, business activities, mom jobs ... but not tennis.
Fast forward -- my youngest son is on the high school tennis team and through the years has become an excellent player. For the last few years when I asked him to play he refused. Thought he was too good and didn't want to bother with me!
Hmmm -- that got me going and when my husband asked me to sign up with him for a tennis clinic, without thinking I said "yes."
That first week I played five times, enlisted a coach and for three months I have been fully re-engaged in what was my first love and passion -- tennis.
I cannot tell you how incredible it feels to be reconnected ...
My scheduling priorities have shifted from "I can't exercise to because I have a business dinner," to "I can't do that business dinner or drinks ... because I'm playing tennis!" As a result, I'm also finding lots of new tennis partners -- business colleagues and friends -- that we can now socialize over a game, rather than the traditional lunch, drinks, dinner plans. Love that!
What's your passion that you'd love to rekindle? What's that one thing you keep saying you want to do or revisit that you once loved? Was it learning a language? Playing the guitar? Painting? Indulging in some hobby that made you happy?
This Reinvention is a tremendous antidote to boredom, a mid-life crisis, a yearning to stir things up in your life, a desire to be happy and just have fun, so if you have that itch and feel the need to mix things up a bit and nurture your passions, give it a try -- you'll be amazed at the results you feel and how it affects so much of your life. #GoHaveFun
#HappyReinventing
Please share your stories -- visit my website and join the conversation -- www.TheReinventionExchange.com;
See great links to others' inspiring websites, sign up for the newsletter and please share with everyone!
Follow me, share, retweet, repost and like @:
TWITTER: @KathiSR #HappyReinventing
Facebook: The Reinvention Exchange
LinkedIn: The Reinvention Exchange
Earlier on Huff/Post50:
