It all started when I saw an announcement in the neighborhood newspaper requesting Seniors to participate in the sport of Recreational badminton at the local Rec. Center. My interest was piqued even more when I found that all I needed to do was show up at the center. No fees, no forms to fill out. In addition, the center provided birdies and racquets. At that time, I thought to myself, “Seniors?” “They are not talking to me”….”I just turned 57 in the past month”…..”They must be referring to High School Seniors”. Although, I decided to make the trip to the Recreational Center at the suggested time, I had some trepidation. Just thinking about participating in a sport with High School Seniors, whose bodies, I imagined, would not quit while running rings around me. I dressed in my favorite tee, shorts and sneakers. When I arrived at the Center, I was amazed to see several apparently fit females in athletic gears. They also appeared somewhat more senior in years than High School Seniors. To say that I was relieved is an understatement. For a while, I observed the ladies while they played, then I began to imagine holding the racquet and hitting a birdie. It seems that the ladies sensed that I was hesitant to get close, and in between play, one of the ladies spoke to me. “What do you want? She said. I explained about the newspaper article that invited seniors to play badminton. I was then invited to join in the play. I explained that I had minimal experience playing badminton. That did not seem to deter the ladies or myself, as by now, I was feeling more confident. It appeared that the group also wanted to get age questions out of the way. I was asked my age, and I found that at the age of “57” I was the “baby” of the group. At that time, the group’s average age was approximately 68. I expressed to the ladies how I previously feared that the program was intended for High School Seniors. The ladies assured me that there were no High School Seniors in their group and that they were all retired professionals. At that point, I breathed a sigh of relief that I would not need to participate in the sport with hard bodied and fit High School students. Of course, there were some chuckles about my irrational fears.

 

            It has been 7 years since I answered the invitation to play recreational badminton. I have gained several benefits from my decision to play badminton. The benefits all have long term effects. I have made several friends with whom I share badminton and many other activities in common. Weight loss has also been a benefit, having lost over thirty-five pounds; I can still run around the badminton court and also chase my grandchildren. Participating in competitive events at the State level has been one of the biggest benefits. My children and grandchildren have bragging rights when their mom/grandmother participates and wins big at the State level badminton events. My husband, whom I have been married to for approximately 5 years, and I, met at a Recreational Center while we were playing badminton.

 

            Some qualities that work for playing badminton are patience and getting along with team members. Ironically, for several years, I had been partners at the local and State games with the lady who asked me “What do you want on that very first day. We have won medals for three years consecutively at the NC State Senior Games. My doubles partner recently experienced a fracture in her wrist and has had to choose a less rigorous sport other than badminton. My husband and I have not won at the State level, but we have won in many local and private tournaments.

 

I now am the proud owner of several great quality racquets and birdies. Since that first day, I have not had any regrets about my decision to join the “seniors” at the Center to play Recreational Badminton. I still love playing badminton and often play with my husband, purely for recreation and health. So, the next time I pick up the local newspaper inviting “seniors” to play a sport, I will jump to it.

 

 

Lilieth A. Rigdon