Not even sure what to say … I had a great time with these two wonderful people.

Juli and Heidi are really down to earth, smart, and fun. They are so at ease with each other and freaking adorable. I could have photographed them all night; I was so inspired.  Juli and Heidi, thanks for being awesome. I can’t wait to see you again in September!

A friend asked me to sign-up for tennis lessons this summer and I almost laughed right in her face. Tennis? I played once in gym class and it’s probably the sport I am worst at. I laughed as I told Troy about the invitation, but he didn’t think it was funny at all. He knows I like to be good at things right away or I give up. Cooking, for example. So, I took a step back and realized it’d be good for me to get outside my comfort zone. I signed up.

Lessons officially begin in a week but I’ve gone out four times with Troy to just practice. The first session was awful. I don’t think I hit the ball once. This is the point I usually give up … but I’ve spent $72 on summer lessons and about half that on a racket. During the second practice session I volleyed a couple times and I got so excited that everything fell apart again. The third time we were on a new court and I couldn’t adapt … everything was bouncier and I was so frustrated. I just kept thinking about how “great” I was in that second session, volleying 3 or 4 times. I blamed the new environment and never got anywhere in the third session.

We practiced a fourth time last night and I had a whole new approach. I saw myself improving. I can only volley for up to 6 exchanges, but that is a 600% improvement over the first time. A little improvement at a steady rate is better than giving up right away. Which believe me, I wanted to. I hate being embarrassed and being terrible at something … beyond terrible at something. But I’m not sure if it bothers me to be terrible at something as much as it bothers me to know that other people know I’m terrible at something. I was too focused on other people’s opinions and held myself back because of it.

The most important shift for me in the fourth practice was being at ease. Being in the moment the entire time. I told myself to just keep my eyes on the ball and nothing else. Not on the people in the courts next to us, or on my ‘opponent’ and his reactions, not on the previous ball I hit or the one I would hit next. Only on the ball in the air at the moment. Because, I don’t have to be the best. I just have to be focused on myself and the moment at hand … moving at my own rate, at ease and happy. I’m learning, I’m getting better. I think I will really enjoy tennis … and I almost missed out on it. I wonder how many other things I have missed out on for similar reasons.

These photos are from a shoot I did for an upcoming feature on a local textile artist with her own linens service for weddings. Her collection is unique and amazing — either hand made or vintage. Definitely adds something more than your standard, over-processed and artifical wedding linens. Full feature to come in a few weeks, but feel free to contact Sarah about her linens service at midwesttextiles(at)gmail(dot)com.