Okay, so, I had this wild idea to get back into tennis after, like, a million years. I used to play a bit in high school, but “a bit” is the key phrase here. I wasn’t exactly Serena Williams, you know? But, the idea of hitting a ball around, getting some fresh air, and maybe working up a sweat sounded pretty good. So, I decided to give it a go, a real “do over.”
First things first, I dusted off my old racket. It was hiding in the back of the closet, looking all sad and neglected. Then, I realized I needed some actual tennis balls, not the flat, lifeless things I found in my garage. So, I went to the store, the sports store, and picked up a fresh can. That new-ball smell? Amazing.
Next up, I needed a court. I remembered that the local park had some, so I drove over there, hoping they wouldn’t be packed. I got lucky. Two courts were empty.
Warming up was… interesting. I tried to remember the basic strokes. Forehand, backhand, serve… it all felt so foreign. My body was like, “What are you doing?” But I kept at it, swinging and missing, mostly missing, but hey, I was moving!
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Forehand: I tried to swing low to high. Ended up hitting the net a lot.
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Backhand: Two hands, I remembered that much! Still, the ball went everywhere but over the net.
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Serve: Oh boy. Toss the ball, hit it… into the other court. Several times.
I didn’t keep score, obviously. The goal was just to hit the ball, and maybe, just maybe, get it over the net and in the lines. I spent a good hour out there, chasing balls, laughing at my own clumsiness, and actually having a pretty decent time.
Here’s the thing about a “do over.” It’s not about being perfect. It’s about starting again, trying something, and just enjoying the process. My “tennis do over” was far from graceful, but it was fun. And you know what? I’m going to do it again. I might even sign up for some lessons. Who knows, maybe this old dog can learn some new tricks.
The point is I tried, and I had fun. That is all that matters.
What I Learned
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Tennis is harder than it looks, especially after years of not playing.
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It’s okay to laugh at yourself, especially when you’re as bad as I am.
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Moving your body and being outside is always a good idea.
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New tennis balls smell awesome.
So, that was my “tennis do over.” A bit of a mess, but a good mess. If you’re thinking about trying something new, or old, again, I say go for it. You might surprise yourself.
