I never had the opportunity to play organized sports. There are many reasons for this. First, few women participated in sports where I lived as a child. There were few organized sports for women, and most of the women who participated in those sports were highly driven by their athletic interest and prowess and/or women of privilege who had the opportunity to partake in sports leagues and activities.
The fact that I didn't develop a strong athletic interest or success is likely the result of many factors. When I was born, I had a problem with my hip. In my early years, I had to wear a brace of sorts to right my dislocated hip--that may have limited my activity somewhat. I also had a bad case of asthma as a child that interfered with healthy breathing during athletic endeavors--that slowed me down and made me uncomfortable. Further, sports were never my first interest. Instead I liked to draw, watch movies, imagine, read, engage in pretend play, and care for the children in my midst. Those were more sedentary activities. And during high school, rather than join a sports team, I worked every afternoon after school from sophomore year to senior year of high school.
My parents did encourage a lot of healthy activity, however. We belonged to the local YMCA where we swam, played games, and engaged in all kinds of athletic activities regularly. I especially loved the parallel bars and trampoline activities during gym time. Our family also spent lots and lots of time outdoors hiking, swimming, and biking. We were an active family. Later in life, I had the chance to take ski lessons, join a college track team for a semester, and take a few long bike trips--these were all positive.
So, while I had the opportunity to engage in athletic events, it never was a first priority for me, and I didn't develop the race mentality or positive self-discipline that comes with being on an athletic team like my family members or peers who were high school and/or college athletes. Now, however, at this late age, I want to develop a bit of a race mentality when it comes to achieving some goals that require discipline and dedication since I've seen what that kind of sports and race mentality can do for life.
Onward.
