One of the techniques Gretchen Rubin recommends in her New York Times bestselling book “The Happiness Project” is to think about what you enjoyed when you were ten years old to identify things you are likely to still categorize as fun as an adult. For those of us who played junior tennis, this is a perfect opportunity to reflect on what made the sport so enjoyable back then. I began my own process by sitting down and making a list of the things I loved about tennis as a kid.
For me, the desire to play tennis was firmly rooted in my family. My mom spent a lot of time on the court, and I inherited her love for the game almost by osmosis and by a desire to emulate my adult hero. Competing against my Mom was a yardstick I measured myself against throughout my early junior playing days. I genuinely enjoyed the sense of accomplishment as my skills improved. The day I finally beat her was a memorable milestone.
Additionally, I am naturally wired to compete. I’ve never been satisfied with any game—tennis or otherwise—until I figured out how to win. That drive to solve the puzzle, crack the code, and outmaneuver an opponent has always been a core part of who I am. Tennis offered a natural outlet for that energy, with endless opportunities to develop strategies, adjust tactics, and push myself to improve. For me, winning wasn’t just about the result; it was about mastering the challenge. That mindset shaped how I approached tennis from the very beginning, and it’s still part of what makes the sport fun and fulfilling for me today.
However, for a socially awkward pre-teen, tennis was a much-needed social springboard. I also liked being around the other tennis kids. We’d spend hours not just on the courts, but in between matches—playing massive card games, sharing snacks, and swapping stories. The social fabric of junior tennis was just as important as the sport itself. While not every moment was perfect, those early years were filled with fun, growth, and a strong sense of belonging.
If you didn’t play tennis as a child, this reflection exercise can still apply. Think back to what lit you up when you were around ten years old and how that might be used to inform your adult tennis journey. Maybe you loved running around outside, organizing games with friends, solving puzzles, or simply being part of a team. Those early preferences often reveal the kinds of environments and activities where we naturally thrive. Even if your childhood joys had nothing to do with sports, the core feelings can be translated to maximize awareness of the best ways to have fun on the court today. The goal isn’t to replicate your childhood, but to borrow that sense of playfulness to enrich your adult life.
Reconnecting with your childhood spirit can reshape how you approach tennis today. Instead of chasing improvement for the sake of goals alone, maybe just remember how good it felt just to play. This month, I’m resolving to let my 10-year-old self be my guide. That’s the energy I’m trying to recapture now. Reconnecting with childhood joy isn’t about regression—it’s about remembering what made play meaningful before adulthood layered on expectations that can make us lose sight of the fun.
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Throughout 2025, I am dedicating the first full weekend of every month to exploring how ideas from Gretchen Rubin’s The Happiness Project (<- Sponsored Link) can spark greater enjoyment and happiness in tennis. This is a non-tennis book that I have come to believe everyone should read. Seriously, you should get your hands on a copy of this book and consider trying some of the techniques described by the author.
