With twelve women, from Canada and The United States. Along with Level 2 IPTPA certified coaches Daniella Niss, and Ellen Korelitz, and yours truly. Daniella and Ellen are exceptional at coaching in a way that pinpoints player technique, giving personalized adjustment where needed, while focusing group instruction to really understand and effectively apply game strategy. My passion is to consider the inner game, being present on the courts, utilizing pickleball as a means of self-discovery, empowerment, and self-care.
This Carpe Dink’em Sisterhood of Pickleball has women that have come on two or even three of my trips. It is a supportive and inclusive group building real friendships, on and off the courts.
“I really appreciate the way Melinda creates and prioritizes community and connection on these trips”, Sydney shared last night during dinner appreciations. And it is true. For me, pickleball and travel have the elements needed to deepen connection and understanding, bring people together in a meaningful way. On the courts, we care and support one another, giving encouragement. Negative comments to oneself when making an error still persist but are met with lots of “good try” laughter from others. Pickleball is ‘only a game’ but is quite a teacher. Learning resilience, focus, camaraderie.
We are staying at the Pura Vida House and Buena Vida House, two luxury villas within the Hacienda Pinilla. These are owned and run by Mani and his wife Sidney who began with a racquet sports and hospitality background, have created a stunningly welcoming environment where travelers feel at home. Each villa is equipped for guests to enjoy, with amenities such as private infinity swimming pools, meals prepared by private chef, access to the Hacienda Beach Club, golf carts to roam around, and three hours dedicated court time, to name a few. In the area is access to horseback riding, snorkeling, ziplining, and other magnificent beaches and nature to explore.
Travel has such potential for inner growth. How one travels contributes to what comes of it. My new and renewed awareness from Transformational Travel Council’s Experience Design course, with such rich and deep conversations about what makes an experience transformative, I now see travel as a practice. There are questions to explore to discover more about what is your travel practice? What does it include? How do you want to be while traveling?
Our sisterhood groups are invited to really honor and care for self, to slow down, be present. My trips also incorporate a way to support local organizations with the intention to make a positive difference in the paces we travel. It is important to me that a travel experience acknowledges the place and people. We are all earthlings, yet, since borders do exist, there are implied separations. When traveling, the divide lessens, especially when consciously and intentionally making the connection.
I have reached out and made a connection with an organization in the area that does fabulous work to elevate lives of youth and families called CEPIA Costa Rica, a nationally accredited non-profit organization promoting culture, health, sports and education for children and teenagers from poor backgrounds in communities in Guanacaste.
We are invited to visit and to bring some requested items which they have on their list. I am intrigued (and obtained) one of the items. An “EFT taping doll” to help children learnt the method of Emotional Freedom Technique. EFT utilizes tapping on specific meridian points while acknowledging negative feelings and then transforming them by stating words that inspire loving and accepting oneself “completely as I am”. Any organization that is sharing this with youth has very high-level practices for self-care.
Onto another day of Sisterhood time. We will show up, for ourselves and for one another.
Blessed be,
Melinda
