Our Post-Holiday Wish

I ran into an old friend at church yesterday.  We had not seen each other in at least six or seven years, and I was saddened to hear that his wife had passed away a few years ago.  He knows that we are a pickleball family, and he shared with me that he had been depressed for some time following his wife’s passing.  But he added that he had taken up pickleball in the past year and it had been life changing for him.  He was playing upwards of four times per week. He was participating in a number of leagues at our local rec center, and he had made more new friends in the past twelve months than he could count.   

All because of pickleball.

That is the power of this game.  

I bring this up because lots of folks received a paddle as a gift this holiday season.  They’ve heard the buzz, and they’re eager to learn to play pickleball – but they have zero experience.

Over the next few weeks they will be making their way out to our local courts.  The very courts where YOU probably began playing not that long ago.

How will YOU greet them when they arrive?

Are you going to be welcoming and kind?

Are you going to help show them the way things work at your courts?

Are you going to be understanding of where they are on their pickleball journey, and remember that, you too, started out right where they are now?

OR

Are you going to be the person who looks the other way when they see a new player walking up?

Are you going to shush them off on someone else if they’re just looking to jump into a game, despite having zero clue about their level or ability?

Are you going to be the person who looks to prove a point when they erroneously challenge onto your court despite not having a snowballs chance of winning a point?

We started FUN Pickleball to help spread the joy of this amazing game to as many people as possible.  In the hustle and bustle of everyday life, and with time pressures to get in as many good games as possible during your playing session, it is easy to lose sight of the life changing power of this game.

That is why it is our wish – our hope – that you will think of my friend above…the one who lost his purpose in in life when his wife passed away, but found new hope in this game we all love.

Be the person who welcomes new folks to your courts in the days and weeks ahead.

Be the person who encourages and educates new people on how to play this game.

Remember that you were a beginner once as well, and somebody was nice enough to you to get you hooked on this game to where you wanted to keep coming back day after day.