I moved to Kincardine in April 2016 when I married my husband, Harvey. During the first year of our marriage we did everything together. We took the Bible verse from Deuteronomy 24:5 very seriously. “When a man is newly married, he is not to be sent off to war or sent away to do public duty. He must be allowed to stay home for a year and make his wife happy!” We travelled, we golfed, we enjoyed yummy meals, we walked, we rode our bikes, we visited our kids and grandkids and extended family, we shopped - everything we did - we did together. It was a magical first year of marriage.

It was early into our second year of marriage that I discovered the game of Pickleball. Pickleball is a paddleball sport that combines elements of badminton, table tennis and tennis. The game is played on a badminton court, has a net, and players use paddles and a plastic ball. There are rules (of course) but it is an easy game to play. After my first introduction to this game - I was hooked and I haven’t looked back. I try to play two or three or four times a week.

DRESSING UP FOR CHRISTMAS PICKLEBALL WITH MY FRIEND - TERRI. (Sorry the photo is a bit blurred - it’s not your eyes!)

Here are some things I have learned while playing pickle ball that apply to life!

#1. BE HONOURABLE.

There are no referees or umpires in the game of pickleball. Everyone must call their own faults and lines. Most people are very honourable and make the right calls. But - some don't. Sometimes you or them - get it wrong. If you step in the “kitchen” and smash the ball - that’s a fault and even if your toe touches the line a tiny bit, it’s still a fault. Be honourable and call yourself on it. If the ball is out and it’s on your side, call it out. If it’s close, give the benefit to your opponent. This is hard to do when the score is close, but do it anyway.

OFF THE COURT WE ARE CALLED TO BE HONOURABLE AS WELL. I’m doing a Bible study in the book of Matthew this fall and living honourably reminds me of the teaching of the Beatitudes in the Bible. The Beatitudes are part of Jesus’ first sermon to His followers and his words were unexpected. He said that weakness is strength. He said dependence on God is power. He said that the religious, the cheats, the liars, and the ones who think they are righteous - are equally dependent on grace. The Beatitudes are so counter-cultural. They are upside down. Jesus shocks His listeners and us when He says things like - “you have heard it said to the people long ago - ‘you shall not murder’ but I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment.” What? Say again? Anger or malice that is nursed inwardly makes people destroyers instead of builders. I would rather be a builder instead of a destroyer. Or how about this one - “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.” Rejoice - when someone undeserving is shown grace. That’s a struggle for a lot of us. Hey! In everyday life - DO THE RIGHT THING - BE HONOURABLE!

ELIZABETH ELLIOT SAID - “IF YOUR GOAL IS PURITY AND HONOUR - BE PREPARED TO BE THOUGHT VERY ODD!”

#2. PLAYERS PLAY AT DIFFERENT LEVELS.

Ratings in Pickleball go from Level 1.0 (beginner) to Level 5 (top players). Ratings are used primarily for tournament or league play and it’s helpful to know your rating even while playing in your own club. In our little town we have level one players right up to 4.5. Pickleball in Kincardine - though - is drop in - not league play, so we play all together. Sometimes you play with a newbee and other times you play against very skilled players. The thing is - we all play together. Sometimes we have to up our game in order to play with the more skilled players and sometimes we have to tone it down a notch when playing with a beginner. The thing is - we all are at different levels but we all play together.

OFF THE COURT WE LIVE AND ASSOCIATE WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE DIFFERENT FROM US AS WELL. Imagine how sad it would be if we all were the same height, had the same colour of hair, weighed the same, had the same skin colour, the same interests, the same skill levels, read the same books, watched the same shows, ate the same foods, had the same schedules, and hung out with the same people all the time.

Because I have moved several times in my adult life, I have had to reach out - become open and vulnerable - in order to make new friends. I have joined choirs, gym classes, church groups, neighbourhood coffee get-togethers, bookclubs, walking clubs, golf courses and have met hundreds of people - some very different from me but each one poured something new into my life and me into them. Some made me uncomfortable. Some I made uncomfortable. Some whom I loved immediately and some not! The thing is - real life is allowing ourselves to be in relationship with others who are not exactly like us but we still get along!

#3. WORK ON THOSE SKILLS.

Always be in ready position!

Learn how to dink!

Dink early and dink often!

Perfect your 3rd shot!

Serving is the key!

Groundstrokes!

Lobbing!

Getting to the line!

Forehand!

Backhand!

There are so many skills involved in this wonderful game and so much to work on. In any match - your opponents will quickly discover your weak area and always try to capitalize on it. Deep on the left side of the court is where many players have difficulties - if you are a right handed player. That’s me! My backhand is one of the weakest parts of my game. It’s an area that always needs more work. And that 3rd shot drop shot? So difficult to be consistent. But I work and work and work on perfecting it.

LIFE SKILLS WORK THE SAME WAY.

Love sincerely.

Hate what is evil.

Cling to what is good.

Don’t repay evil for evil.

Don’t take revenge.

Live at peace with everyone.

Be joyful.

Share your home with others (but not during Covid)!

If you don’t have anything nice to say - don’t say it at all.

#4. THERE’S ALWAYS TOMORROW

Most days I have a lot of fun at pickleball and it’s great exercise. It’s pretty easy to put 10,000 steps on my fitbit in 2 hours of play. Two weeks ago - though - it wasn’t fun. I felt sluggish. My game was off. My serves were zipping into the net or flying out past the backline. My lobs were hitting the ceiling. My 3rd shot drop shot was not existent. The longer the afternoon went on - the worse I seemed to play. I went home early.

Some days in real life - are like that too. It seems conversations don’t go the way you want them to. It seems you take things the wrong way. You are crusty with the kids. You are short with your spouse. You snarl at the dog! And the dog snarls back! You get what I mean.

The good news is - after a week lay off of pickleball - I went back this week and all was well. The shots were (mostly) going where I wanted them to go. I had fun again. I worked up a sweat.

With my mom moving in on Sunday - I’m not sure how much pickleball I’ll get in in the next few months but when I do have a free afternoon - you know where I’ll be - at the Davidson Centre - dinking with my pickleball posse!