Racquetball - Goal #10 completed

When Matt and I were newlyweds, he introduced me to racquetball. I didn't play many sports growing up unless I had to at church events. I kinda thought I wasn't athletic at all, but I tried playing. I felt clumsy and uncoordinated, but Matt would talk me through what to try differently, and we had fun. We would play occasionally, and each time I got a little bit better. I don't know when it was, sometime in the beginning of our marriage, I made the goal to beat Matt at racquetball. 

Fast forward 18.5 years. We had been playing here and there over the years, and my goal stayed the same. Every vision board I made had 'beat Matt at racquetball' on it, and I kept at the goal all those years. Maybe not so seriously because it just never happened. In the fall of 2024, Brynlee had dance lessons at the rec center right across the hallway from the racquetball courts. This was my moment! We would play every single Thursday night, and I got serious about my goal, even down to working out my arms so I could have more power in my swing. I was sure that was going to be key. I would get so close, but I just couldn't do it! There were some nights I walked away cranky because he had to go and beat me yet again!

I had Brynlee on my side, of course. She was cheering me on to beat Dad. When dance was done, she'd sneak into the room and sit in the corner where the ball didn't go as often, I know, not safe. She would cheer for me and boo for Matt. Not the sweetest to Matt, but let's be honest, he won plenty of times. He could handle a couple of boos from our heckling daughter.  I think Matt was also cheering for me to beat him too but he wasn't ever going to go easy on me. I didn't want him to. I had to beat him all on my own.

One of the times we played, I was running to hit the ball and my foot slipped, and I ran headfirst into the cement wall, or whatever those walls are made out of. I was sure my head was split open. I was crying and lying on the ground. It was pretty awful. I eventually got up and insisted we keep on playing. The top of my head was sore for quite a while. I probably shouldn't have kept playing, but by this point, I was dedicated. I kept trying and trying. Then the magic day happened. I realized that I played better after a couple of games. I needed that warm-up time, and I never had enough time on Brynlee's dance days. I would almost beat Matt, and then it was time to go. So I asked my parents to watch the kids so I'd have enough time to warm up and then play, and that was enough! I beat him! It took me 18 years to complete the goal, but I did it! 

I have maybe beaten him 5 times at this point. He is hard for me to beat, but I can do it! I have really enjoyed this sport, and I am good enough now to win!