I thought I would do something a little differently this week as I’ve been working on my newest book, Pickleball Evangelism – How to Start, Run and Grow a Church Pickleball Program, and as I was working on it, I thought you might be interested in reading a excerpt from the introduction.

It’s a little bit rough, but I think you’ll get the idea…

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“Introduction:

I love Pickleball! The teenager next door loves Pickleball. My son’s teacher loves Pickleball. The grandmother in my Bible Study loves Pickleball. My daughter’s lacrosse coach loves Pickleball. My Pastor loves Pickleball. What on earth is going on?

What is it about this simple sport with the funny name? Why is everyone so crazy about this sport?

When people ask me why I’m so crazy about Pickleball it’s kind of difficult to verbalize. Now, you must know, I’m a talker. I was the kid who got notes home from her elementary school teachers telling my parents I would do great if only I would stop talking! I love and use words every day. Yet describing this feeling I have about Pickleball leaves me speechless. But for your sake, I will try.

What is is about this game? You’re playing with strangers who become your favorite friends. You’re not particularly athletic or competitive, yet still, you love it. You’re using oversized ping pong paddles and hitting a wiffle ball across a net dividing a court 1/2 the size of a tennis court. You’re running, jumping, and more than anything else, laughing.

I think I’ve figured it out. You see, you’re playing like you haven’t since elementary school. Your mind is on nothing but the game. For just the 10-15 minutes it takes to play a game, you forget about doing your taxes. You forget about your troubled child and aging parent. You forget about the dire economy and political strife you’re bombarded with all day long.

For just a bit, you’re that 10-year-old tetherball, kickball-playing kid on the playground again. And now you’re laughing and shouting and moving like you haven’t in years. You’re cheering your partner on and laughing some more. Your heart is full. Your dopamine producers are in full force and you’re suffused with a wonderful sense of well-being.

No matter if you lose or win, you’re in the best mood you’ve been in for days and your only thought as you exit the court is, “When does the next game start?”

You’ve fallen in love with Pickleball.

So what does this have to do with your church? Now more than ever people are looking for Jesus. Because now more than ever, they are looking for and longing for hope in this dark world. What we do, as Christians, in churches all across the world, is give hope through life in Christ.

What is the biggest barrier to people learning about this hope? It’s the idea of coming to church.

According to Gallop polling, the numbers are discouraging. “Two decades ago, an average of 42% of U.S. adults attended religious services every week or nearly every week. A decade ago, the figure fell to 38%, and it is currently at 30%.”

Gallop goes on to say, “This decline is largely driven by the increase in the percentage of ​Americans with no religious affiliation​ — 9% in 2000-2003 versus 21% in 2021-2023 — almost all of whom do not attend services regularly.”

So what if there was a way to invite people into your church in a non-threatening, life-affirming, loving, fun way?

I posit Pickleball is that “Trojan horse” with which we will win souls for Christ.

And how to start, run and grow a vibrant pickleball program is what the rest of this book will share with you.

By the time you finish this book, my guess is you’ll be inspired and equipped to make a real positive impact for good in your community. Let’s go!”

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So that’s it for now. It feels good to make progress on this project. What projects are you working on? Can you take 20 minutes and make some progress today? If so, hit reply and let me know.

As always, I’ll be here to Cheer you on,

Love ya,

Christy

The post Something Different Today appeared first on Christy Largent.

Let me ask you a question…

When it comes to doing certain things in your life, do you do them because you want to do them, or have to do them?

Let’s take something like making dinner for your family.

I don’t know about you, but I’m responsible for the nightly dinner in our house. When my husband retired, he tried taking over these duties, but I didn’t like what he did, so I took that one back myself.

The thing is, I really don’t like cooking.

At all.

To me, it’s just a lot of time and energy for something that’s over with in minutes. I’d be just as happy (maybe even happier) with a bowl of cereal and toast. (Can you see why I struggle with too many carbs? haha)

Anyway, I just don’t like cooking.

I don’t like the planning, the grocery shopping…don’t even get me started on the Kroger app…the unpacking the shopping…the cleaning…the putting away…the pulling out and prepping…the cooking itself.

I do usually enjoy the eating…

And I really enjoy what happens around the table during and after the eating.

The conversation.

The laughter.

Even the arguments.

And most of all, I love how a full tummy and plenty of time seem to be a key that opens my son’s heart and mouth, and what happens in that golden time is often like a window to his soul.

I still don’t like cooking. (I know, this is just a thought, and I could change that thought if I really wanted to…I’m working on it…)

But I really LOVE what cooking that nightly dinner does for the relationship between me and my son and my husband.

So even though I don’t want to cook dinner for my family night after night. I try to do it at least 3-4 nights a week to get to what happens when I do it.

And suddenly, that “I don’t want to” thought becomes a “I get to” thought.

And as I’ve thought this through (last night was an unusually tasty and fun meal, resulting in my son and husband heading out for ice cream afterwards) I realize that there are many areas of my life, where if I would just push through and DO the thing I really don’t want to do, my “don’t want to” just might change into a “I get to,” and that sounds pretty good to me.

I hope you “get to” do more of what brings you joy this week.

Love ya,

Christy

P.S. I also “get to” write ​books​ about my favorite subjects, God and Pickleball. If you want to take a peek, ​here’s a link​ to make it easy for you. xoxo

The post Why I Do What I Don’t Want To Do appeared first on Christy Largent.

I see the images coming across my Instagram feed and the stories filtering over my Facebook page.

Parents hugging, kissing, laughing, sorting, hauling, setting up (exquisite) dorm rooms, exploring, letting go, laughing some more, and crying.

I have 1 heading off for her second full year at UT, and to be honest, I have some really mixed emotions right now.

You see, our original college dropoff was fall of 2021 when we left our oldest as a HS senior for her to attend the Texas Academy of Math and Science up at the University of North Texas.

To be honest, I had an idealized vision of what it would be like to move her into her dorm. I’d use my background as a professional interior designer to help her create a beautiful, charming, inviting place of respite and calm amid the challenges of college.

I pictured helping her move in and get everything settled, pictures hung, lights strung, and a fuzzy throw blanket across the back of her desk chair. Kissing and hugging goodbye I’d cry on the way home, having dropped my eldest off, knowing things would never be the same again.

Well, I cried on the way home, but for a very different reason than I thought I would.

For starters, she wanted nothing to do with my vision of a fabulous dorm room. Utilitarian was her battle cry and she wanted it as sterile and stark as possible. No throw rugs, sparkle lights or beautiful art. Not for this girl.

I finally wrapped my mind around that, and at least looked forward to helping her move in with what she did let me get her.

Instead, as we got there and began unloading, she definitely didn’t want help putting her room together. I kept hovering, trying to help, but she was on a mission. Everything unpacked by herself and set up by herself.

She didn’t want any input or help from me other than taking out the trash.

In fact, she couldn’t get us out of there fast enough.

I get this. I do. This was about her, not me. But it was really tough for me.

That’s how it is with expectations. We have a vision, how it “should” be, of whatever it is…marriage, parenthood, our work, or, more specifically, moving a kid into college, the empty nest, our “retirement” years…

And for some reason, our expectations are way off base.

What do we do then?

It’s how we handle these unmet expectations that can really take our joy in life off course.

But the magic is that this is where we get to practice the skills we work on, our lovingkindness, our generosity, our patience, our trustworthiness.

During the difficult times are when those skills really count.

When we are able to manage our thoughts so they are working for us instead of against us.

When we can generate good feelings for ourselves in the midst of, let’s face it, less than perfect/desirable circumstances.

I’m so thankful that this year I have a lot more developed skills in this area than I did 2 years ago.

Now when Amelia insists on doing everything herself, I can notice her actions and if I start feeling rejected, I can recognize that it hurts, let myself sit with it until that feeling dissipates, then, I can change my thinking and think how thankful I am she’s so self-sufficient and focused on what’s most important to her.

Because when I think how grateful I am she’s confident and purposeful, I feel happy and even more grateful and hopeful for her future, which helps me be a more supportive and encouraging Mother. (Which is what I want to be!)

Oh, and I can have her Dad take her back down to college without me, which will let us all breathe a bit easier.

I know life isn’t like all those pictures I see on my social media. But going through this exercise helps me stay on track a whole lot more, and I hope it will help you too!

Love you and cheering you on,

Christy

P.S. If you’re curious about this “Think-feel-act” model I keep talking about, my coach Edie Wadsworth has opened her coaching program for a limited time. You can go here to find out more information. (Not an affiliate, just a BIG fan!)

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I was thinking of summers past, and all the child-focused activities that used to fill my days. Activities like swim lessons, YMCA camps, VBS and lazy days at the lake.

With the kiddos grown, those days are long gone, but I still want to have a fun summer.

We know that some summer fun happens by magic…but I’ve found, that unless I plan for it, it’s sometimes easier (and less fulfilling) to just sit down for a Netflix session after dinner rather than enjoy some experiences that would be much more fun and definitely more memorable.

So I’ve put together a list of 7 things not-to-be missed for us grownups, and I wanted to share them with you. Let me know if you do any of them, and how you liked it.

Summer Fun for You!

1. Visit a local museum.This is the kind of thing you might do when company comes to town, but I’d recommend you visit just because you can. Thankfully, even the smallest communities often have interesting museums, and this is just the time to take advantage of it.

2. Take in a local concert. When I lived in the Washington D.C. area, going to the free Sunday afternoon concerts at Constitution Hall was one of our family’s regular activities. I didn’t realize until l was grown how unique an opportunity it was to hear some of the great musicians of our time – and I’m quite thankful now. So this summer is a great time to look at who is coming to town, and go enjoy yourself.

3. Visit a local night market. I just love the fun and food that pop up all over our nation on weeknights in the summer. Once again, a time of listening to music, eating fun food, and relaxing in the summer glow while browsing local handmade arts is special and fun, and unique to the season.

4. Sign up for summer classes. Ever wanted to take a painting class, or learn how to calligraphy? Or how about flower arranging? Summer is a terrific time to try something new. Many local businesses offer summer classes, as do most Community park and recreation programs. Check out what’s on offer and jump in.

And speaking of jumping in.

5. Go swimming. Whether it’s your backyard pool, the neighborhood hot spot, or your local YMCA, find a pool and go swimming. It’s such a fun activity, and even if you’re just enjoying a good book along the side and popping in every 30 minutes or so to cool off, it’s still such a relaxing way to spend an afternoon.

Of course, I have to mention reading.

6. Try a new genre you normally don’t read. Are you a fiction person? Then try a biography or autobiography. Is Science Fiction your thing? Pick up a true crime book and see what you think. Romance all the way? Stretch yourself and grab one on self-improvement. You know I love to read, but I must admit, I usually only pick a few types of books. So I’m going to challenge myself to stretch and read something new.

7. Play a sport! Of course, I’m going to recommend Pickleball, which anyone can play no matter their age, size, or abilities. But there are other sports after all, and this summer is a perfect time to seek out a softball league, a volleyball pickup game, or dust off your tennis racquet and head for the courts. Nothing gets your mind moving like a fun game of sport.

There are so many different things I could add to this list, but this should be enough to get you started.

Don’t let work and tiredness cheat you out of having a really fun summer. With a little effort and forethought, this really could be your best summer ever.

Love ya and cheering you on,

Christy

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Sound familiar? It’s really hard to stay positive when you’ve got anxiety beating down your door – even when you’re trying to sleep!

So I want to give you a few suggestions I have found to be helpful, even when you’re dragging.

“Look at something that makes you smile”

When you wake up anxious and beat down, look at something that makes you smile right away. Maybe that’s a picture of your child or grandchild. Or of a favorite holiday when you all laughed and laughed. Or maybe it’s your silly dog who just jumped up on your bed, tail wagging and trying to lick your face.

Use a physical cue to turn your mind to a happy place. As you look at that picture or hug your dog, take just 30 seconds and enjoy the moment. Take a deep breath and think about that happy vacation or how warm and soft your dog is. As my 10-year-old son says, “Savor the moment, Mama!”

“Take time to be grateful for this”

Using the energy of those happy thoughts, the next step is to start being grateful for this positive thing in your life. You can say it out loud or just to yourself. It might sound something like this…

“Thank you for this sweet dog who makes me laugh. Thank you for her soft fur. Thank you I get to hug her and snuggle her close this morning. Thank you that I have money to take care of her and buy her food. Thank you that she brings me joy.”

I must warn you that what invariably happens is that right about now your anxious thoughts will try to intrude. Our mind is crazy like that.…lost in the moment with your sweet dog, you suddenly start thinking about that horrible employee who is causing all kinds of problems with your team.

So when that person comes to mind, instead of jumping into anxiety about the strife she brings, just picture her. Then control the thought about her intentionally, turning it to gratitude. 

It might sound like this…

“Wow. Carley. Hmm…Thank you for Carley. Thank you for the way working with her is allowing me to learn and grow. Thank you that I get to figure out how to either get her back on track or let her go for career redirection. Thank you that I’m capable and know how to either work through this or get help to work through this…Thank you for my job that lets me use my skills and talents. Thank you that I get to have so many awesome people on my team. And as difficult as Carley is, she just shows me how fortunate I am to have so many other great employees. I’m confident I can handle this today.”

Just writing that made me feel better!

“Repeat as needed”

Repeat as needed throughout the day. During difficult times, I know anxious thoughts are never far away. And when they overwhelm, I find we often allow ourselves to obsess on all the possible things that could/would/might go wrong and it becomes a negative spiral that never ends. It just gets darker and deeper.

That’s why it’s so important to recognize that you can have the victory and find the positive if you choose to. These simple steps…Observe, Give Thanks, Repeat will help you do that.

Have you tried to turn your anxiety around to find the positive? If so, what works for you? Let me know as I’d love to hear your solution.

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