Pickleball, Why…?

I have a lot of friends these days who contact me and ask how I am doing. Am I staying safe, sane and healthy in this new time? These questions come up a lot these days after we have spent over a year dealing with the pandemic, working from home and dealing with new life stresses. It seems my tennis and racquetball friends always respond with “Why Pickleball?”  Well, I have a 6-point answer for that question, but bear with me for a bit of back story.

My Backstory of Taking Up Pickleball

Looking back 2 years ago, myself and many people around the country had options to deal with stress. For me personally at that time, I was fortunate enough to be able to go to the gym, go outside or enjoy the sites in and around Southern California, but then the pandemic and the lock down occurred. I was very lucky to be able to work from home during this time, but I found that having my office always within in eye site is a blessing and a curse.

It’s a blessing because I do not have to deal with dressing up, traffic, weather and crazy drivers. It’s a curse because my work is always present. My home and my work were one in the same and 20 paces from anywhere in my home was the demands and tasks of my day job. It took a physical effort for me to let go of work and try to gain a fresh perspective on a day-to-day basis. And in 2020, there were not a lot of options to get out and clear one’s head. Gyms had closed, parks and beaches were restricting access, so distractions from work and life were few and far between.

And as it turns out, work distractions and time away are very healthy for you. They can help you develop new ideas, solve problems and keep your mind fresh. So, with the gyms, tennis and racquet clubs closed, I did not have an outlet to relive the daily stress that comes into and out of my life. So, I tried running again and as I mentioned in a previous article, running and I do not like each other. I would get up after work, stiff from sitting most of the day and start to stretch. I’d slip into my running gear and hit the pavement, all the time thinking about work and all of the other life hassles going on. Listening to music and podcasts helped, but would never draw my mind far enough away to help me let go.

 And then one day I stopped at a public park with a pickleball banner hanging above its tennis court and saw people smacking around a hollow and holey ball. I had noticed a group of people playing for about a week and they were competing, exercising and having fun. All of course while social distancing and Purrelling themselves regularly. This is where I stumbled upon a wonderful opportunity to blow off some stress, break a sweat and deboard my mind from the work and life trains. All aboard the Pickleball Express!!

So, Pickleball, Why?

My answer to people asking me “Why Pickleball?” is: I joined my Pickleball community because:

A.    It gets me out of the house.

B.    It gets me away from work and life.

C.    Its good exercise – I completed 10,000 steps tonight alone.

D.   Its competitive.

E.    It can be very social.

F.    ITS FUN!

When I drop by my pickleball community, I can get out on the court and clear my mind of the day’s “stuff”. I can fire up the other side of my brain to focus on my opponents, put some muscle into the ball, and let go of some of my pent-up stress. I can connect with people that are 7 feet away from me (or more) and have a good laugh.

Playing pickleball with my community opens up my world a little. It lets me connect with like minded people, it raises my heart beat, and clears my mind. So, my question to you, Mr. / Ms. Pickleballer, “Why Pickleball?”

I’d love to hear what the “Why” is for you. Let me know in the comments section below!