Life Lessons From Pickleball Players

SPEAKER_01 0:00

Hi, I'm Shelley Maurer. And I'm Cher Emmerich. Welcome to Life Lessons from Pickleball, where we engage with pickleball players from around the world about life on and off the court. Thanks for joining us. Welcome, everyone. We're so glad you joined us today. And Shelly and I are really jazzed to have on the show two friends of ours from our pickleball community, Wenting Nee and Kim Landisberg. So glad to have you two.

SPEAKER_00 0:34

Yes, glad to be here.

SPEAKER_01 0:37

Wenting, you're a neonatal intensive care nurse and a mom of two. Yes. And I so, so appreciate the work that you do. And I'm very familiar with it, having two grandkids, twin grandsons that were in the NICU for several weeks. And it just gave me such a heart for what you do and how you support the families and how actually help the families really get through what's a very hard thing. And so I just really want to thank you for that work. Thank you. I love my job. It's really a privilege to be able to work in the NICU. And Kim, you taught first grade for 10 years. And then I love how you say you, even though it was hard to leave teaching, you left for a new role of mom and because you and your husband adopted a son from Korea in 2008. And I have a real heart for that because I also have an adopted son, but mine from Africa. And I'm just so delighted that we have these things in common. And there's even more in common, and that is your twinning. So Shelly, you just learned today, right?

SPEAKER_00 1:54

I

SPEAKER_01 1:55

couldn't believe it. I've played with these guys for probably almost a year now. And I just learned that they're both identical twins. And I just think that's fascinating. Not to each other. You're not identical twins to each other, but you each have an identical twin. Yes. Yeah. I think one take away from identical twins.

UNKNOWN 2:18

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 2:18

So, Wen-Ting, you were born in China, and then you went to nursing school in Toronto, Canada, and then moved to the States in 2011. When were you introduced to Pickleball? Um, I would say just in 2023, I just started playing, but I heard about it from people at work, maybe in 2022. And I just was not sure where it was

SPEAKER_00 2:54

to go. And

SPEAKER_01 2:57

then I guess I really started playing in 2023, early 2023. And were you hooked right away? Oh, yeah. Well, I started taking tennis lessons first. I did about a year of tennis at UTC, and I just cheated with people laughing. I'm the oldest. I shouldn't have done that. I have to try that. So I started taking people's lessons, and I just... I didn't give up on my tennis. I just went full-time football. Yeah, a lot of us have done that. Left tennis behind. And Kim, you may have mentioned that your son kind of influenced your introduction to pickleball. Why? Well, just turning to a vendor in Costco with regards to pickleball, there was a package there to buy. And he was like, no, let's do this. There's something outside because we need to do something outside. So it is a playing and you're looking up to see roles and everything. I think I do it a little bit more. I have a friend that actually is Madeline's sister-in-law. Our coach Madeline. Yes. So Madeline's sister-in-law and she said or I asked about Her, she coaches it. And I wanted to go and see if I was starting a class there. So then I was like, I'm going to go and do it. And I did it in February and signed up for a class. Yeah, this is where we met. Did you find out last? Yeah, I took part in the class. That's so cool. Yeah. So we had a great time. That year, though, that you started playing... Kim, as I recall, your mom had passed? Actually, 2018 wasn't a very good year in my family at all, because my brother passed away unexpectedly, and then my mom was diagnosed with brain cancer. Oh, mom. Kim! Yeah, so... 2018. Oh my gosh, Kim. I am so sorry about that. All of that, so the... So the whole thing was just with the cost you need to live and everything. A very challenging year. A very challenging year. And your mom grew up on Bainbridge? Yeah. I mean, I spent my holidays and everything on Bainbridge. So it just was like, that's where his birthplace was. So it kind of was funny that his dad was like, we're playing for Nana. Yeah. So... Was Pickleball helpful in your grieving of that? Just getting out and playing him, doing it. It just was amazing. Nice. Nice. Kelly and I are feeling this. We're feeling this. We were just talking about that earlier, too.

UNKNOWN 6:12

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 6:13

You were? No. I asked a lot. Yes. Yes. Yeah. It helped a lot. That's pretty good. Just meeting people, playing, just having fun. My mom's thing was never being in an adventure, so it was interesting for me to go to the class, you know, to do that, do the things that, you know, I mean, you normally do, but just have fun and laugh. I really... Because he's going to say, no, Kim's great about laughing and making it light and giggling. Yeah, we have a lot of fun on the court. It's fun. That's fair. Wenting, how has pickleball influenced your life? Um, it definitely make me looking forward to every day when I wake up. I know I work long days at work and sometimes on my days off, I just don't want to do anything. I would sit at home, watch TV all day, you know. to some laundry on our chores that we noticed feeling very warm. But since I start people hot, every day I'm looking forward to waking up, it's not hard to wake up. Don't worry, my day is more fun, for sure. And then just seeing no one, seeing all the people that we live with, and it's just so still and great. Yes. Do you need some more motivation to go to work? I don't know how to lock my job. I do lock my job, but do you need even more motivation to go to work so you can have money to buy new paddles? Okay, here's the thing. How many paddles do you each have? Come on, fess up. I know a little bit of shit. She does have a paddle addiction. You do have a lot of paddles? Yeah. It's malaria. And pickleball clothes and shoes. That's very cool. That's very cool. But I do imagine, Wen Ting, especially with your job, Talk about stressful, and you have all these parents whose children are very sick, and they are leaning on you, and the children are needing your expertise and tenderness, and I just can only imagine how at the end of the day, it must be hard to find a balance, and it sounds like Pickleball is helping you find that. Yes, for sure. And yes, it's probably sometimes after a really stressful day at work, I'm really looking forward to go to bed and then wake up to print the next day. And sometimes I... Watch typical videos. I didn't do it. No, I didn't watch. Turn your words off. Turn your words off. Sorry, Kim. Thanks for downloading my videos. I just feel like it does, you know, give me a nice break from my stressful work. If I'm able to And the two of you, Well, you each have twins, sisters, and you were each first born, right? And Shelley and I were talking before the show, we wondered if the fact that you had, well, at least what I understand is with twins, you do have an ability to communicate in a way that maybe with other siblings, it's not quite as instant or intuitive. Is that true? Was that your experience with your twin? Definitely. I think even Kim and I... I'm not sure. A lot of times, you know, we receive a boom message and for some reason, Kim and I will just reply in the same instance. A similar message. We have 12 times more. I know. It's scary. Yeah. Very, yes. I used to do that with my sister. We would just all of a sudden start saying the same sentence or same thing out of nowhere. We were just thinking about the same thing. But now I think I have it with Kim too. You need to guess. Oh, sure. Well, it was interesting to find this out today because I've always looked at you guys. We haven't even talked about that you guys are tournament partners and really good partners. Excellent. And I always look at you guys and am amazed at how you guys communicate so well together. And now I understand. I think it's because of the twinning thing. It's so interesting because I think... I think your whole lives, right, you've been connected to someone or aware of their emotions or their feelings or you've just been so aware of your twin, right? And I think I see that on the court. Like, you're so aware of each other. Like, I've had to really work on that. as a partner like trying to even know where my partner is on the court or feel my partner or sense my partner or but i think you guys just are so used to that with a twin that you you just naturally do that without even realizing it it's amazing to watch and those will help us make together a little streaming data yeah you know i mean just me or the other partners and stuff and i was always We need to come back to play with the dudes, you know? It's just gonna be so easy. I don't plan to think you just have to go, did you know? At least last we don't realize in my place that there are times when we play with somebody else and it's like so different when you play with somebody that's not him or the king who got the list. And I'm like, but I didn't think about it. I didn't think about it. Yeah, yeah. There's no way each other will be, there's no shots we take. Yes, definitely. I mean, that is almost a superpower that they have. I think it's your twinning superpower. I really do. Because I think you guys do it with each other without even realizing it. Because if one of you is doing it and the other person on the court is not doing it, you're right. It's not as effortless. But the fact that both of you guys have that superpower, it's really amazing. I'd be interested in knowing, do you have a You know, I've always thought, okay, a twin born, it seems natural that there would be this connection. But now I'm wondering if twin minds are actually born with a more sensitive, intuitive awareness. I mean, I'm fascinated that the two of you are kind of experiencing what you have with your twin sisters. And I think that's really amazing. They just become as much as my husband

SPEAKER_00 13:33

likes

SPEAKER_01 13:37

it. That triple ball. My twin sister, we're together every day, and that's how we develop. You know, like... But I think like what Cher was saying about the brain, I mean, just think in utero, you just always have someone else, something else there, somebody there always, right, that you're always aware of. Yeah, it's fascinating. So now you both are in tournaments. You're 3.5s, right? 3.5? Yes. We missed out the 3.5. Yes. You can probably be 4.0 as far as I'm concerned. You're that good. But how many tournaments have you played in? With May, too. With May, too. Yeah. We'll be in May. Are you in that one, Shelly? Yes. Yes. End of May. Okay, cool. In May, yes. Nice. Nice. Yes, yes. So, when you are playing together and one of you, if this has ever happened, one of you isn't playing as well as usual... Has that happened? Yes. One of the challenges for being a good pickleball player is being a good partner. So what do you do, either individually for yourself, or what do you do to be helpful to your partner when one of you isn't playing up to what you know could be your standard? I think we just have to be understanding. We all have our bad days sometimes. And then, you know, just encourage each other. Say, that's okay. We'll get the next chance. And then sometimes Kim will say, or I will say, or Kim will say, oh, we should have slept and we should sleep together. Or just, you know, realize, you know, we could fit together. And just have fun. Sometimes I say, it's okay. we're not losing just have a good time just have fun out there um we'll just have fun in a bit yes yes happens have fun yes so now don't put too much pressure on our own self yeah and just have fun and it's you know At the end of the day, it's just a game, right? And it's just to have fun out there. And we're just trying to instill ourselves to do better. And it's not the end of the day if you lose a point or lose a game. I think that's how that's what we do. I can't stay for a minute. We did not enjoy playing with us because we were having fun and we're just laughing and we're also distracted. But they say that they enjoyed playing against us because we were having fun and it was fun. It was a nice moment, I thought. Yes, for sure. And other players. Yeah, yeah.

Pickleball Players Share Life Lessons

SPEAKER_01 16:37

I was watching a video of a coach talking about how he plays with others. And he's like a 4.5, 5.0. And he was saying he can't let himself be kind on the court because he believes it will take away his edge. So he says all these other players are saying, good job, good thing, and keeping a good sense of humor. And even though Personally, he is that way. When he's on the court, he says he can't, he has to keep that edge or he thinks he's going to get, you know, creamed. So I love that that's not your problem. Well, I think for some people, maybe that's their goal and they want to win things. But I think our goal is just to have

SPEAKER_00 17:25

fun. Yeah. Yes. And when. That

SPEAKER_01 17:35

would be nice. Do you think you do much verbal communication or is it just intuitive? Like when you're. Yeah. Yes. Okay. No. And I remember, which is, you know, before we start everything, we try to, you know, talk to each other, okay, what we need to be with, you know, this child, or after, you know, like, after the point that we lost, and we'll say, oh, we should have done this, we couldn't have that. Yeah, we do all three jobs, talking, you know, trying to fix as we go along. Yes, that's it. Steve, when you do it to work, that's not what we were attending. Right? Yeah.

UNKNOWN 18:25

So...

SPEAKER_01 18:26

life lessons that you've either learned on the court that you are taking into your lives or that you've learned in life and you are taking it onto the court? Do you have any that you'd like to share? I definitely learned from pickleball that I need to focus in the moments when you're playing and They don't want to stay in the moments. I sometimes in my life wonder so much. I was thinking about, oh, what did I do on the last point? Or, oh, what could have I done in the last moment? Oh, what am I going to make for dinner? And I just lose track. Sometimes you just can't focus. So really learn from people to focus in the moment. And also at work, too, I need to do that because a lot of the tasks we do require a lot of concentration. So try to stay in the moment and focus on what you're doing.

SPEAKER_00 19:29

For sure.

SPEAKER_01 19:32

I mean, I've learned that from pickleball, so I learned that from pickleball, so I learned that as well. Did you say you learned it from pickleball, or you learned it in life and took it to pickleball? Where did you learn that teaching? Make me realize that I need to do that even more. Make me realize the benefit of being focused, for sure. I can only imagine how focused you have to be at work. I mean, talk about needing to be in the moment, especially if it's an emergency or whatnot. That's right. Keep your mouth sharp and remember your resuscitation steps and just be in the moment and focus on only the baby, not anything else. And Kim, how about you? I try and move on. I always say it's behind me, whatever just happened, and I'm always going forward. And a lot of times to get down, I always, until it's over, you just got to rest and be strong. That's it. I kind of laugh and have fun. Nice lessons. The same for me. I feel like I'm all just amazing. And then patience. Be patient. Oh, yeah. Be patient. And I brought school stuff in with me just with silly sayings that I try and do just to remember stuff. Like what? Yeah, give us some. Your secrets. No, no, no. Share the secrets. Share the secrets. Wait, explain that Miu one. So what do you say? You say... Okay, me and Pat. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Nice. Nice. And then just be kind to yourself, too. Like, we all make mistakes. Yeah. Yes. Be kind to yourself, update yourself, and... I think it's better than this. And just celebrate each other. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Even at work, you know, we celebrate at work if we haven't really taught the literary or we have a really small free meal that we... Everybody worked hard to stabilize, and then we celebrate afterwards. So I pick up off when it's half game, and you celebrate each other. Yes, he's opening at March. Definitely. And being a teacher, Kim, I can imagine that my son is a teacher, and

SPEAKER_00 23:01

God bless you. Just God bless you.

SPEAKER_01 23:03

I cannot, I cannot believe how many hours teachers put in and I was not, I wish I had had better awareness for the teachers of my kids, and I would have been taking them cookies and coffee and everything every single day if I'd really understood what they were going through. And so thank you so much for Being a teacher in first grade is so sweet. But oh my God, what a job. That is a big job. But I imagine being a teacher, you have acquired the ability to kind of hold many things in your mind at the same time. And you have to do that on the pickleball court too, right? Yeah. even while you're focusing on one, there are so many things that we have to keep in mind. Do you find that having been a teacher that assists in that? Yeah, it helps with that a lot. I think you might have found out when you were asking what the score is, but it has been like that. And the score is right in the middle. And how do you do it for Nick and Anna just on what's going on? Like her being proactive. Helping out on the other side. So I noticed what you bring from teaching is you're very helpful with suggestions and stuff to fellow players.

SPEAKER_00 24:22

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 24:25

Yeah. Just like you, you nurture us. Like you're nurturing your kids. Yeah. Silly, sweet. And to share information. Yeah. That's good to share with people. Yeah. I like to share. Does your son play pickleball? He's funny, yeah. He's 15. His main thing is golf, but he'll go with me. I'm like, I got a tour with me. Can I help you? Because he's very, he's very good at it. He did very well. I was like, ain't she gonna come and just give him a try? Oh, no. Do you want bits? Bits, no. I think. No, I don't think. I mean, he likes playing with you, but yeah. He's good at it. Yeah. That's what you think. Competition. The fact that your 15-year-old even wants to spend time with you is a really good testament to your mama. He's like, mama, it's supposed to be some moves for mama, so don't do this. He wants, like, he says, time away. Yeah. Nice. Very nice. Don't go. So, it's just fun. I enjoy it.

SPEAKER_00 25:30

Very nice. Oh, sweet.

SPEAKER_01 25:33

What would you each say is the other person's greatest strength on the pickleball court? Just pickleball? Okay, anything. Pickleball in life. I would say for Kim, a kind person. She just makes me feel really comfortable. I won't. I'm not afraid of making mistakes. I'm not afraid of making mistakes. I'm not afraid of making mistakes. I'm not afraid of making mistakes. I'm not afraid of making

SPEAKER_00 26:15

mistakes. I'm not afraid of making mistakes.

SPEAKER_01 26:26

She's so tall and her tall hands, great reach, and fast hands. And Kim, how about Winting? What she does? I just enjoy it. She's smiling, we go jumping in the deep. I've just enjoyed this. I want her to be smiling. Her husband is not.

SPEAKER_00 27:06

I want to be making her like

SPEAKER_01 27:14

too many things. I don't like it. I don't like it. I don't like it. Jelly, are you seeing this? That's how they are on the court. Yeah, they just have so much fun together. Just like that. Always. Just like twin sisters would be. That's so funny. Yeah, it is. I know. I was thinking to have someone in our lives who we're not afraid to make a mistake with. That's huge. And I think there are people who don't have anyone in their life where they feel completely safe to make mistakes. So the fact that you each feel that from each other, not just on the court, but in life, that's such a gift that you give to each other. Looking forward to many more years playing together. Oh,

SPEAKER_00 28:16

yeah.

SPEAKER_01 28:18

It is fun chatting with you guys on the podcast than it is playing with you on the court. Exactly. And Wenting and Kim, did you have any other thoughts that you wanted to share? Try it out and have fun. keep hitting that third shot drop don't give up just believe in yourself and that's my have fun and surround yourself with people that Have fun and don't stress on anger. Yes. Believe in yourself, be kind to each other, and be kind to yourself.

Wisdom and Gratitude in Conversation

SPEAKER_01 29:29

Wow. If we did that throughout our lives, that alone, wow, golden, huh? Wow. Yeah. Very wise. What a world it would be. Yes, good point. Shelly, we have very wise friends. We do. Well, thank you both so much. We really appreciate this, that you've taken time off of the pickleball court to talk to us. That's huge. Thank you for having us. Thank you so much for letting me do this. They're probably running out to drill after this, right? I think so. Take a lobby, please. You are so adorable. Thank you both so much. And we want to say thank you to all those who are listening and watching. Thank you so much. And we look forward to our conversation next week.

UNKNOWN 30:30

Bye.