What Pickleball Taught Me About Paying Attention to Life and Pet Parenthood
This post is published under Tails and Reflections, a reflective series from The Pet Mom Journal, where I explore mindful living, emotional well-being, and the quiet joys of pet parenthood.
Today, my husband and I played pickleball. That might not seem extraordinary, but for someone like me, who has never felt drawn to sports, it was a small breakthrough. I have always preferred long walks and quiet routines over competition. But somehow, this game has stuck. It is light, fun, and, surprisingly, something we both enjoy.
Today, I played better than I usually do. Not amazing, but improved. And the reason? I finally kept my eyes on the ball.
I know that sounds obvious. But I realized that, in past games, I was not truly watching. I would try to predict where the ball would go and move there instead of watching it all the way through. My paddle would swing…and I would miss.
But today, I followed the ball. I stayed focused. And it made all the difference.
And then I thought: this is not just about pickleball.
Life Moves Like a Game
There are seasons in life when we lose focus. Distractions creep in and habits form without thought. We stop paying close attention because we believe we can predict what is coming. We assume there will always be more time, more chances. But like a missed shot in a game, some moments do not return.
This is especially true in middle age. There is a strange fog that can settle in during this chapter. We are no longer chasing firsts, but not yet settled into endings. It becomes easy to go through the motions, to drift a little. We blink, and time has moved forward. We look away for just a moment, and something meaningful has passed us by.
I sometimes see it in my own life. I notice it when I catch myself working on my laptop while one of our cats is curled up beside me, hoping for a slow moment of attention. I feel it when my to-do list pushes aside simple joys like sipping coffee with my husband or sitting still to watch the sky shift colors in the evening.
When we’re not fully present, we start to overlook things. We delay the slow mornings, the quiet play, the one-on-one time with those who need it most. Not everything demands urgency, but that does not mean it should be ignored.
So let this be a gentle reminder: presence is not about doing more. It is about noticing what is already here. A soft nudge to look up, to pay attention, to return to the moment in front of you. Because the more we practice that, the more we stop missing what really matters.
Presence is the Real Lesson
What I learned from today’s game is that effort is not enough without attention. That even in something as lighthearted as pickleball, presence changes the outcome.
And that realization? It follows us off the court.
It reminds us to stop rushing through dinner time and to enjoy the quiet companionship of our pets. To pause for a moment during the chaos of a busy day and simply be where we are. To notice the little things, because those are the moments that truly matter.
If you want a simple way to put this into practice, choose one moment today to be fully present with your pet without multitasking, without rushing to the next thing. Five minutes of intentional attention can strengthen your bond and bring more calm and predictability into your routine.
This is the heart of pet preparedness. It’s built in these everyday touchpoints that help our pets feel safe, supported, and part of the family.
So wherever you are in your journey as a pet mom, I invite you to:
Pay attention
Stay present
Keep your eyes on the ball
Life is always in motion. But when we are watching closely, we are more likely to hit the moments that matter most.
