36 Million Americans Now Playing Pickleball

City Council is holding an important vote in our community on Monday, 5/13.  Our newly formed pickleball club, now at 150 members, is working behind the scenes in preparation.  Should the city of Williamsburg located in Eastern Iowa give us their blessing, we will go into hyper-drive raising the necessary funds to construct four outdoor pickleball courts on city property on the south side of the recreation center.  Key members of the community are joining the fun and will offer their thoughts about why we should move forward at the upcoming meeting.

There are several reasons why 36 million Americans play pickleball.  Unlike traditional sports which require large groups in order to play, a pickleball player can show up any time and most likely find someone to play with.  No reservations are required.  No commitment to play for the season is necessary.  Players can drop in or drop out any time.  There is no upper age limit.  Some members of the newly formed Pickleball Iowa County Club take breaks for walks around the indoor track or go on hikes on our surrounding trails between games.  In my opinion, the number one reason people are getting hooked on pickleball is the socialization aspect.  I was nearly moved to tears when a couple of members shared how pickleball helped them overcome loneliness because they were isolated in their homes.  

My number one reason for playing pickleball is because my wife loves playing and we can do this together.  My tennis buddies will readily admit the learning curve for tennis is rather long.  In my case, it took 49 years of playing tennis before I weaponized my backhand.  My wife mastered her pickleball backhand on her first day of playing.  I do find my time on the pickleball courts rewarding when it comes to physical fitness.  Pickleball is a great cardio workout.  Cross training in multiple sports helps me with my endurance on the tennis courts.  

Stay tuned for updates regarding our meeting with City Hall next week.  I have a feeling this meeting will be standing room only.  Have a great day. 

Servant Leadership

 The one I follow teaches servant leadership like no other.  It's a lesson most prefer to ignore because there is no glamor or glory.  Perhaps that's why I'm attracted to those people who serve without any desire to live in the spotlight.  

I got an opportunity to meet one of my mentors while on a day job assignment.  The first time she met me I appeared to be wandering around, perhaps out of sorts because I was asked to join a training session with people who were way above my pay grade.  

We met again years later when she visited a new location we were setting up in another state.  "Are you in charge?"  she asked, knowing I had been properly trained by her extraordinary team and that I was given credentials to lead others.  "I'm support," I answered;  "I'm one of the servants."

Why is it so important to learn the servant role?  I believe this keeps you from getting a big head.  Maybe you can recall a time in your life when you suffered having a boss who treated you poorly because you were "below" him or her.  Or, maybe you remember a boss who treated you like family.  I fully understand that motivation to excel can come from leaders who display empathy for the servants.  I prefer the servant role because this allows me to see first-hand how people of influence behave.  The same is true when I'm dining out with others.  If you want to see me lose my cool, all you need to do is mistreat the server.  

If you happen to be in a leadership role and you're looking to move up, I have one important tip for you.  Step out of your comfort zone and do something in a servant role.  Go somewhere where no one knows you and volunteer.  If you get mistreated because the people around you assume you are "below" them, you will learn a valuable leadership lesson that you can apply to yourself.  Have a great day.

Date with Destiny Next Monday, 5/13

 In a world that seems to be increasingly divided as each day passes, there is one place where people from all walks of life are coming together – City Hall in my community.  One week from today we will continue the pickleball discussion that began at our first official meeting with representatives of our parks and recreation department on May 1.  We have been added to the agenda to discuss the construction of four outdoor pickleball courts on city property at the next City Hall meeting on May 13 at 6:30 pm.

Abraham Lincoln said it best, "A house divided against itself, cannot stand."  Perhaps what's happening in our community can help swing the pendulum back in the direction of unity for others.  

Unity begins in the home.  My wife and I discovered two new activities we can do together – Bike riding and pickleball.  Coincidentally, our town recently created new trails which happen to lead to our proposed pickleball site for four outdoor pickleball courts.  Support for the idea is growing.  Our newly created FaceBook Page, Pickleball Iowa County, now lists 147 members.  Players from surrounding communities are pledging support for our cause.  

History was made when the French Revolution began on the Royal Tennis Court at Versailles on June 20, 1789.  Perhaps we can depart from our fighting ways and find peace on the pickleball courts springing up all across America.  Abraham Lincoln would be proud to see a house no longer divided.  Who knows?  The vote to accept our proposal may be unanimous when City Hall sees how we are united for the common good of all living in our community and beyond.  Have a great day.

Happy Cinco de Mayo

We are blessed to have two Mexican food restaurants in our town and both happen to be located close in proximity on the east side of our town square.  Either one is a great place to celebrate 'Cinco de Mayo.' This is the day our neighbors to our south commemorate victory over the French at the battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862.

Many people in the United States mistakenly believe Cinco de Mayo is a celebration of Mexican independence.  It's not.  The battle of Puebla was a huge win for the underdogs who were greatly outnumbered in Puebla but much more work was necessary before the enemy was sent packing years later.  Napoleon III ordered the withdrawal of his troops on January 31, 1866.  The last troops exited in November, 1867.  

My own personal celebration of Cinco de Mayo may appear strange to those who love Mexican food.  Although I trace my heritage on my mother's side of the family to Zacatecas in Mexico, I choose to eat my burritos without tortillas.  Flour has been banished from my food choices as my body responds with inflammation.  For me, no inflammation increases the happiness of my family physician, my wife and family, and yours truly.  Happy Cinco de Mayo.  Have a great day.

May the 4th Be With You

Difficult to see: always in motion is the future – Yoda, The Empire Strikes Back

Today is a great day to be a science fiction fan, especially if you are a Star Wars fan.  I stood in line to be one of the first to see Star Wars in 1977 while in my junior year of high school.  The original movie, Star Wars, was later renamed Star Wars: A New Hope.  This is fitting because, in the beginning, there were low expectations for success so the film was given a low budget.

In a parallel universe, Star Trek, created by visionary Gene Roddenberry, barely made it to season three prior to cancellation one month shy of my 10th birthday.  Network executives never really grasped the hunger fans like me have for science fiction.

May the 4th be with you.  May you live long and prosper.  Have a great day.

If You're Gonna Do It, Do It Right

My dad's timeless instructions seem to be reverberating inside my head these days, "If you're gonna do it, do it right."  Perhaps it's because I seem to find all the ways to do it wrong first before some kind of revelation strikes.

Our community is coming together at City Hall ten days from today on May 13 for a meeting with the full town council to discuss outdoor pickleball courts in my community.  Register here to watch the meeting on Zoom.  Grass roots support is building.  The director of community outreach for our county is watching over us making sure no stone is left unturned when our group, Pickleball Iowa County, makes the case for the fastest growing sport in America and why we should all be playing in our community.

I'm excited to see our group growing exponentially since one of our members started a FaceBook page for pickleball enthusiasts.  Click here to follow our journey.  Perhaps we will meet on the outdoor pickleball courts sometime in the future once this project is completed.  I'm confident our group, now at 145 members, will get the job done providing we stay true to dad's infamous words, "If you're gonna do it, do it right."  Have a great day. 

Time to Say Good-bye

 My sister returns to Arizona today.  She arrived one week ago to support my book release.  It's hard to say good-bye.  That's the challenging part about living so far away from my siblings.  My sister is the reason why my own health turned in a much needed positive direction.  Her 18day ordeal battling a near fatal infection inspired all of us to pay greater attention to what's going on inside our bodies.

In other news, the leaders of our local parks and rec committee approved advancing our project to the full city council for outdoor pickleball.  Our Iowa County Pickleball Club now boasts 140 members as of this morning.  There is much work to be done.  Keep these folks in your prayers.  Have a great day.