I’m 32 years old. I’ve never been a professional athlete- in fact I didn’t even play college ball.
But I train like one. I focus on my training, goals, recovery, and preparation like I’m a pro.
Not because I think I’m going pro (I promise I’m not delusional LOL), but because I take my goals and myself seriously.
Being an athlete is at my core. It’s a part of who I am.
A little background
For a few years in college I didn’t feel like my full self. I couldn’t really put my finger on it. Then I started playing intramural sports and I literally felt alive again.
Playing sports and competing is me. It lights me up and fulfills me in a way I can’t describe. It gives me direction, purpose, community and goals, and I absolutely love it.
Then after college, same thing. I got busy working and doing “life.” No sports. I was still a gym rat but something was missing and I didn’t even realize it.
Until I found pickleball.
Then I became a little obsessed
This sport lit me up again. It became a little bit of an obsession (if you’ve played, you know how addicting it is 😅).
And here’s the funny part. I was not good at it. No racquet sports background and no clue about the rules.
But I was fascinated and I wanted to learn.
So I did what any millennial does when they discover pickleball… I went completely and utterly all in. 😂 I did my YouTube deep dive on how to keep score, what the rules are, how to improve… all the things.
Then I found out there are local tournaments almost every weekend, and I knew I had to compete. Two reasons:
It gave me a goal, and this bitch loves goals 😂
The athlete in me wants to compete
So here’s what “training like an athlete” looks like for me
I eat clean. I drink plenty of water. I take my supplements. I train off the court. I stretch, foam roll, take ice baths, get deep tissue massages, use compression boots, sit in the sauna, and limit alcohol and sugar. 🧊
Is that a lot for an amateur pickleball player? Yes.
But when I do something, I’m all in. I’m going to give it everything I’ve got and have fun along the way. I’m a very passionate person, and I’ve learned to embrace it instead of shrinking it. When I set a goal, I go after it with everything I have.
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Then I got injured (again)
So a few months ago I tore my meniscus (again) and got a bone bruise as a bonus. Cool cool. 🙃
After months of appointments, scans, and seeing multiple providers I finally got to see my Physical Therapist. They saw me for 10 minutes and said “come back in 2 weeks” without a plan or guidance. So I took my recovery into my own hands. I researched physical therapists and found one who specializes in return-to-sport protocols. He’s worked with professional baseball players, soccer players, jiu jitsu athletes, you name it.
And no, I’m not a professional athlete. But my body deserves to be treated like one. I want to play sports and live my life without limits for as long as I can. Now I’m working with someone I’m confident will get me back stronger than before. 💪
So here’s what I believe. If you want something, you have to go after it.
Don’t sit in the desire forever. Wanting something is great, but making the plan and actually going after it is what makes your life extraordinary.
“But Brooke, I’m not an athlete”
Stay with me- this is relevant no matter what your goals are.
Maybe your goal is to lose 10 pounds. Or run your first 5K. Or finally start the business. Or go to the gym three times a week consistently.
So let me ask you something. How do you talk about your goal?
Is it “oh, it’s just a little thing I’m trying”? Or do you not tell anyone at all, so it’s not a big deal if it doesn’t happen?
Because here’s the thing. If you don’t believe in your goal and take it seriously, you won’t achieve it.
I’m not being dramatic. This is how your brain works. Your thoughts create your feelings, and your feelings drive what you do (or don’t do).
Here’s what it looks like when you don’t take your goal seriously:
Thought: “It’s just a little goal.”
Feeling: indifferent
Action: You skip the gym even though you planned on it and order takeout instead of cooking.
Result: no progress, and now your brain has “proof” that it didn’t matter anyway.
And here’s what it looks like when you do:
Thought: “This matters to me.”
Feeling: committed, determined
Action: You pack your gym bag the night before and go even though you don’t feel like it.
Result: you’re actually moving toward the thing you want.
Same person with the same goal, and a very different outcome.
An athlete doesn’t skip practice because it’s “just practice.” She shows up because she decided the goal matters. You can decide that too.
How to take your goals seriously
1. Say your goal like you mean it.
No “kind of,” no “we’ll see.” Make it measurable and give it a date.
“I’m running a 5K on [date].”
Say it out loud and tell one person.
📝 Not sure what your goal even is yet? I made a free worksheet for this. The Big Goal Worksheet walks you through picking a goal that actually scares you (in a good way) and building the plan to get there.
It’s free when you subscribe, and it unlocks right here on this page 👇
2. Prep like it’s game day.
Athletes don’t wing it. Put the workout on your calendar like a doctor’s appointment and pack your bag the night before. Make it easy for future you to show up.
3. Stop waiting for someone else to show up for you.
Believe in yourself and your goal so unapologetically that you show up for you.
4. Show up when you don’t feel like it.
Nobody feels motivated every day. There are days I’m driving to the court or the gym and I really do not want to be there. But I go anyway, because I made a commitment to myself and my goals.
Taking your goals seriously doesn’t mean you can’t have fun
When I say take your goals seriously, a lot of people hear “no fun.” That’s not it.
When I set a goal, having fun is actually part of the plan! I laugh at myself when I whiff an easy shot and I still go to happy hour with my friends.
Taking your goals seriously just means you keep your word to yourself. You can have a blast along the way. You just don’t let “I don’t feel like it” make the decision for you.
You deserve to go after every single thing you want in this life. And it starts with believing your goals and dreams are worth taking seriously.
Ready to take your goal seriously? Start here 👇
Grab my free Big Goal Worksheet. It’s the exact process I use for every big goal, from the questions that turn a wish into a plan all the way to what I do when life gets in the way. Print it, fill it out, put it on your wall.
It’s free when you subscribe, and it unlocks right here on this page 👇
And drop it in the comments: what’s the goal you’re finally going to take seriously? I read every single one 🫶🏼
serious pickler here tooo!! we need to find more of them here on substack hahaha
Loved this. Have you watched the Dink movie?