By: Andrea Stark

Remember when a competitive drive wasn’t just for getting ahead at work?  Recall when working up a sweat wasn’t achieved by running late getting kids to school?  Do you ever reminisce about when the excitement of a win wasn’t something we watched professional athletes enjoy on TV?  Do you ever think about when a physical challenge wasn’t a couch to 5k?  Me, too.  Many women believe the days of being an athlete are in the past.

If you are like me, you’ve logged many hours on a treadmill wondering if a “runners high” is a completely made up inside joke.  You also probably aren’t especially enthused at the prospect of reliving your glory days in high school or collegiate sports. You’ve probably moved onto rooting for your kids’ sports teams and focusing on meal planning as a pathway to a healthy lifestyle.

As a five-foot three-inch cut from the junior varsity volleyball team turned cheerleader, the likelihood of athletics as an adult seemed slim. Then I picked up a pickleball paddle and considered the idea of engaging in a lifelong sport.  I connected with the idea that sports are still for me, and not just for my kids or Olympians.

I remembered that competition is healthy, and I recalled why some of my best friends to this day are ladies that I created bonds with through athletics.  I dismissed the idea that it was too time consuming or selfish to engage in this type of self-care.  When I reengaged with this part of myself, the game changed.  Spoiler alert, I didn’t quit my job and become a pro pickleball player.  In fact, I’m not even especially good at pickleball, but let me tell you a little secret.

You don’t have to be super good at something to like it.

You don’t have to be winning tournaments to reawaken important social connections that can be fostered through athletics.  You don’t have to sign up for league play to experience the health benefits that are inherent in getting out and moving your body on the pickleball court.

Ladies, your trajectory in this sport won’t even be defined by how good you look in the uniform, but you can get in touch with your personal style by adding in a piece of sporting equipment that allows you to make a statement on the court.

You can work hard and grow in athletic ability and skill, or you can simply go out and play at the level you are today.

The fun is out there waiting for you and for once its not wrapped in a fad diet or exercise program that you must endure.  It is actually just fun.  It was a great choice for me, and I invite you to consider getting in the game!