Loved reading this one and although I don’t play tennis, I understand the sentiments of how we come together doing what we love with our favorite people.
I love this!! I think it speaks to the myth that American culture tells us about fulfillment coming from the one-on-one relationship with a spouse or significant other. Sure, that's a source of fulfillment, but if that's our ultimate and final (which it can't be), we're missing on a breadth of important relationships and sources of meaning through a variety of avenues. Someone needs us and we need them!
Friend, you are so, so right. You always have a way of framing things so well. Other people shape and push us in ways that our regular partners don’t. I love the way you put this.
Amen Beth! My tennis friends, my mahjong friends, my book club friends…they all bring me so much joy and keep my life so interesting. And I want the same for my husband: interesting friends, good conversation and health. When we both have that, we are so much happier together.
It's brave to move away from all the things that you love and find familiar. Being able to connect with people through sports, books or any other subculture of life really eases some of the uncertainty of a big change. I, for one, have used tennis many times to get out there in a new environment and it delivers every time!
The sports theme runs in the family! :) We use our coping mechanisms as our safety nets and they guide us to those who trust in the same things we do. I often had to remind myself about that bravery because it felt so hard at times (still does once in awhile, if I'm being honest!). --Molly
Dragon boat paddling became my subculture 14 years ago (if you’ve never heard of it, you’re not alone - it’s the most popular unknown sport out there). I have made some of my closest friends as an adult with the people I have met training and racing. Like with any group of people you spend a lot of time with, work hard (suffer?) with, have fun with, and break bread with, you become a family of sorts. You may be closer to some than others, but they are still your people.
Na--I thought of you when putting this piece together and about how much of your journey has been found with that paddle, on the water. I know what a force you are and how much others look to you in that space. They are lucky to have you! There's no feeling like winning or losing a race alongside those that you've trained so hard with. Love you --Molly
Tina--The sizing up is real as I've been to a pickleball court in Palm Springs and had to take video because it was such an experience. But the passion was palpable, too! Love that you found your people--what a feeling that is. I was so glad that Anita let us celebrate her doing our favorite thing. --Molly
Loved reading this one and although I don’t play tennis, I understand the sentiments of how we come together doing what we love with our favorite people.
I love this!! I think it speaks to the myth that American culture tells us about fulfillment coming from the one-on-one relationship with a spouse or significant other. Sure, that's a source of fulfillment, but if that's our ultimate and final (which it can't be), we're missing on a breadth of important relationships and sources of meaning through a variety of avenues. Someone needs us and we need them!
Friend, you are so, so right. You always have a way of framing things so well. Other people shape and push us in ways that our regular partners don’t. I love the way you put this.
Amen Beth! My tennis friends, my mahjong friends, my book club friends…they all bring me so much joy and keep my life so interesting. And I want the same for my husband: interesting friends, good conversation and health. When we both have that, we are so much happier together.
It's brave to move away from all the things that you love and find familiar. Being able to connect with people through sports, books or any other subculture of life really eases some of the uncertainty of a big change. I, for one, have used tennis many times to get out there in a new environment and it delivers every time!
Tennis, mahjong, book clubs…all such great ways to connect!
The sports theme runs in the family! :) We use our coping mechanisms as our safety nets and they guide us to those who trust in the same things we do. I often had to remind myself about that bravery because it felt so hard at times (still does once in awhile, if I'm being honest!). --Molly
Dragon boat paddling became my subculture 14 years ago (if you’ve never heard of it, you’re not alone - it’s the most popular unknown sport out there). I have made some of my closest friends as an adult with the people I have met training and racing. Like with any group of people you spend a lot of time with, work hard (suffer?) with, have fun with, and break bread with, you become a family of sorts. You may be closer to some than others, but they are still your people.
Na--I thought of you when putting this piece together and about how much of your journey has been found with that paddle, on the water. I know what a force you are and how much others look to you in that space. They are lucky to have you! There's no feeling like winning or losing a race alongside those that you've trained so hard with. Love you --Molly
Molly- First my subculture is pickleball and I used it also when I moved to a new town, Palm Springs.
I can’t say that I was quickly embraced as you get sized up pretty quickly but I can say that I’ve found my people.
Thank you for taking Anita out to do and recieve her most favorite things on her birthday.
Tina--The sizing up is real as I've been to a pickleball court in Palm Springs and had to take video because it was such an experience. But the passion was palpable, too! Love that you found your people--what a feeling that is. I was so glad that Anita let us celebrate her doing our favorite thing. --Molly
I’ve found with each of our “subcultures” we’re really just reclaiming the fun, laughter, wild abandon and play of our youth ;)
Oh gosh, I really love this.
I think of this often Teen. I want to play like I did when I was kid: free, creative, joyful. And yes, competitively!