How a Text Message Unlocked a Deeper Memory 🎾
Movement through tennis. Stillness through somatics.
🎧 Heads up: if it’s better for you, you can listen to this post on Spotify or Apple. 🎧
This week I started back with tennis lessons! It turned into a tennis heavy week, actually. Some of the women in my lesson approached me after class asking if I wanted to join their weekly play; they’ve been taking lessons together for a while. Two days of tennis + I stopped by the U-M vs MSU tennis match over the weekend. They play where I play and that’s fun for me. 😏 I also came to scope out the gear.
Before I started my personal styling business, I worked in corporate apparel. Projects like: cocktail dresses for liquor brands, auto show event apparel and everyday uniforms. This work was a catalyst to me leaving the corporate world of B2B and striking out on my own (B2C)—I was outfitting sizes XXS - 6X and mass production never fits everyone well. I’m also a snob when it comes to fit; remember I grew up seeing custom clothes being made and wearing them too.
The result? U-M won the Big Ten Championship and finished it’s season with a “perfect 11-0.” MSU, had cooler uniforms. 🎾 (I’m not just saying that to give a win to Sparty because I’m an alum!) The University of Michigan players wore straight skorts; I prefer a pleated, flowy skirt silhouettes for tennis. However, the Michigan State University players all tucked their flowy skirts into their shorts (to hold their tennis balls) and that threw me. It looked like when a little girl leaves a restroom and she doesn’t know her skirt is tucked into her underwear. You get the visual.
A pet peeve of mine in tennis fashion is…how do I phrase this…the odd ball storage? When I verse people that have 3 balls protruding out of their hip (side pocket of yoga pants for example), it looks alien-like.
I’ve always been drawn to tennis-core. And it feels like damn near every athleisure company is spitting out tennis looks. I have my picks and I also asked fellow Substacker, Tennis Sweet Spot whose been broadcasting and writing about tennis for two decades, on her fav tennis fashion.
Here’s our combined list! Whether you play or just appreciate the styles, this is for you.
Lacoste print set—you gotta be a member to buy this style. Simple signup.
Limitless Skirt—navy w Wilson on waistband
Lastly, Amazon. It could be a real win, judging by the reviews. Or you could look like a bird! The straight cut front and pleated back is giving cockatoo…
Also, this skirt for young girls. ⬇️ Does your tween daughter also ask for Lulu? I respond with, you are Delulu. (like that? 😏) Lululemon clothes are not for humans under 10, in my opinion. This skirt below is inexpensive, super comfortable and under $20.
So, I was feeling good—playing tennis, meeting people I discovered I liked being around, soaking in sunshine and fresh air for a 30 minute mid-day match and then something unintended to sting, did.
A former client reached out, asking me to update his wardrobe. When I asked what types of clothes he was looking for, his first sentence read: “That’s your job”
There was no punctuation at the end. And the rest of the message followed. As is often true within text messages, tone can be misread.
He was simply putting his trust in me—to craft his style, as he has for over a decade. Yet, this triggered something from my past. There was no harm intended, but my body responded like there was.
Instantly I felt transported back in time. I was sitting on a deck, overlooking a lake, having just put my youngest down for a nap, trying to explain how overwhelmed I felt, how little time I had to myself and how I needed more. I was met with, “That’s your job.” As in, know your role/end of story.
Oddly, that phrase stung previously, at age 22. I asked my boss about being incentivized to bring in new clients and he replied, “That’s your job.” As in, you sell more because it’s why you’re here.
I didn’t realize I still carried this potent phrase of being undervalued until I heard it again.
Our bodies are amazing in that way. Words we haven’t thought about in years strike and we are transported. Triggers are meant to be addressed, not to send us spiraling.
If you’ve ever had someone say something that felt small but hit big, this is for you.
I created a 2 minute somatic practice to bring myself back to center. I’m sharing it with paid subscribers below.