My One Goal-Free Activity

Our weekend was fun and uneventful so I won't bore you with the details. It's always nice to get out of the big bad city and let the kids run amok. I think our friends are still our friends despite our slightly rambunctious children. And, my favorite British word of the weekend, which I once knew but somehow forgot, was "nutter" as in, "That guy is such a nutter."

I've been a little busier than normal because I've loaded myself down with extra-curricular activities. I've got:

1. 4 children
2. Book club
3. Piano
4. Photography (it's time to finally learn how to use the camera I got for Christmas last year)
5. Running
6. Tennis

I'm a goal-oriented person; all of my activities are done with some end-point in mind. For example, I want my kids grow up to be normal, contributing members of society. I hope I can someday play piano in front of people (other than these people). I would like to take nice photos of my family and the cool places we visit at some point. I enjoy competing in running races and bettering my times, and, by reading lots of different kinds of books I hope to broaden my horizons.

The exception to this rule is tennis.

Now, I've been taking tennis lessons off and on over the last 6 1/2 years. The last time I played regularly was my first year in Small Town, Mexico. So, that was 4 years ago. I'm taking it up once again. I have one group lesson with Ballerina Girl and a couple of other ladies, and one private lesson each week.

I have no aspirations in tennis. I'm not even really interested in tennis. The US Open? I get bored watching it. I don't know who the tennis players are, past or present (well, except for Venus and Serena. But I don't know who's older or a better player, I only know their names). To be honest, I don't even really know how to score tennis. Games? Matches? Advantage? Whatever.

I just like taking lessons.

Oh, and I love the clothes.

I like having the instructor hit balls back and forth with me. If I can learn hit the ball a little harder and aim a little better, I'll be happy. That's it; that's as far as I want to take tennis in my life. I don't really want to even learn to serve because that would make me more prepared to play in an actual game with other people.

What has this taught me about myself? I have learned that, it may be possible, that because I have no goals related to tennis, I completely enjoy it. I love going to my lessons, wearing the cute clothes, and feeling like I've gotten a good workout, with no strings attached.

This realization is kind of freaking me out; now I'm thinking I should have some more goal-free activities-maybe I'd be happier. :)