Looking to meet new friends in a new neighborhood, I wandered over to our little community park one day. What I found was a group of middle-aged women having the time of their lives poking and pushing and smashing and slashing a small whiffle ball around.

The old tennis court had been transformed into a makeshift pickleball court with hand-painted lines, a sagging net, and cracks where grass grew. Dogs ran through the play, kids whizzed by on bikes and skates, and the snow-capped Rocky Mountains loomed in the distance.

I stood on the sidelines watching patiently, trying to figure out the scoring system and the point of the game—other than pure fun. I figured if I hung out long enough, someone would notice my eagerness and invite me in.
And they did.

When that moment came, I jumped right in, knowing I could probably manage this game. After all, I had once been the top junior tennis player in the country and even a Wimbledon semi-finalist. Surely pickleball couldn’t be too difficult—even at my age, 81.
That was the beginning of my love affair with pickleball.

Finding Friends and Building Skills
Those four women soon became my closest friends. Together we laughed, stumbled through the rules, and reinterpreted the scoring system every time someone new showed up with advice.

Around the same time, I started teaching my unusual form of tennis—“Zennis,” a dance-like, happy way of swinging the racket—at The Garden of the Gods Resort and Club. Before long, I added pickleball to my teaching. The funny thing? I could barely keep score myself!

But that didn’t stop me. Teaching kept me one step ahead of my students. It also sparked the idea for my book, DARE TO DINK: Pickleball for Seniors and Anyone Else Who Wants to Have Fun.

The Head Rackets Pro was shocked.“You’ve only been playing six months!” he said.
I smiled. Nothing was going to stop me. After all, I’d already written and illustrated over 100 children’s books. Why not pickleball?

What Pickleball Means to Others
While gathering stories for my book, I asked fellow players—most of them seniors—why they loved pickleball. Their answers warmed my heart.

• “As a recent widow and an empty nester, there is nothing like pickleball for making new friends, and having fun while exercising.” – Mary, 63
• “I love pickleball because of the people I meet. It’s great exercise and good for the brain!” – Susan, 73
• “What I love about pickleball is it’s like I get to be a kid again! I haven’t felt this way since competitive sports in high school.” – Mic, 69
• And my favorite: “The hardest part about playing pickleball is learning the names of all my new friends!” – Pat, 80
  

These comments echo what I’ve discovered: pickleball isn’t just a sport. It’s a community.

Lessons Pickleball Has Taught Me
Over time, I’ve made some observations about the game:

1. Age and gender don’t matter. Everyone plays with everyone.
2. Everyone is a teacher. If you don’t know what to do, someone will happily show you.
3. No class distinctions. Only skill and joy matter on the court.
4. It’s inexpensive. All you need is a paddle, a few balls, and sneakers.

Best of all, it offers the gift of learning something new at any age. As someone who once thrived on tennis titles, I find it thrilling to master fresh skills, whether it’s a tricky drop shot or better ball control.

I see the same excitement in my students. One woman with two hip replacements can no longer ride horses, but pickleball gave her a new passion. Another had never hit a ball before, yet she beams every week as she grows more confident.

A New Kind of Happiness
Some of my happiest moments now are in the summers here in Colorado Springs. I sling my pickleball bag over my shoulder, grab my visor and water jug, and head to Monument Valley Park.

Walking through the trees toward the courts, I can already hear the laughter, the pop-pop of the ball, and then the greetings begin:
“Hi, Sally.”
“Good to see you, Sally.”
“Want to play in?”
It makes my heart sing.

Pickleball may look like just a simple game, but for me—and for so many others—it’s a source of joy, friendship, fitness, and lifelong learning.

Want to Learn More?If you’re curious about trying pickleball, or if you’re already playing and want to dive deeper into the fun, my book Dare to Dink, click here.

For pickleball gifts and art by Sally Huss, click here.

Have you ever sat across the table from someone, laughing over a cup of coffee, and thought, “Maybe this is the one?” Or maybe you’ve been on your own for a while, enjoying your freedom but secretly wondering if there’s a missing piece. If so, you’re not alone.

I remember my younger years, filled with exciting adventures, wonderful friends, and more than a few glamorous escapades. It was fun—sometimes dizzyingly so! But at some point, I began to crave something deeper, more lasting, and truly meaningful. A real connection. A love that wouldn’t fade when the lights went out.

That’s when my heart turned toward a higher kind of love, and with it, a new way of seeing life. I began exploring the spiritual side of things, understanding that we actually manifest the lives we want. That realization was a game-changer. Suddenly, love wasn’t just about chance encounters or blind dates. It was about intention, energy, and asking the universe for what I truly desired.

And so, I made a decision: I wanted a true love for a lifetime.

A Simple but Powerful Formula
Now, before you imagine something complicated—don’t worry! I didn’t design a mystical ritual or a complicated system. I created something simple, clear, and powerful.
It all boiled down to this:

1. Decide exactly what you want. Be specific. Tall or short? Adventurous or calm? Loves travel or loves gardening? The clearer you are, the easier it is for the universe to deliver.
2. Write a letter to the Sun. Yes, the Sun! It’s a beautiful way of sending your intention outward, upward, and beyond yourself. Address it as if you were writing to the universe or to God, and pour your heart into it.
3. Put the letter where the Sun can see it. On a windowsill, outside, or anywhere the sunlight can touch. This act is symbolic—and powerful.
4. Think about your life with your partner. Imagine walking hand-in-hand on the beach, cooking dinner together, or simply laughing at silly things. This visioning shapes the future.
5. Get ready. That’s right—prepare your life, your heart, and even your calendar. Love needs a space to land.
6. Be in love now. Here’s the magic part. Don’t wait until you meet your soulmate to feel love. Radiate it now. Live in the vibration of love and watch how it attracts the right person into your life.
   
7. 
   

It sounds simple, doesn’t it? But I promise, it works.

The Proof Is in the Love
I know because it worked for me.

With this formula, I found the man who has been my partner, friend, and love for a lifetime. And you know what’s even more delightful? When I shared the formula with friends, they found their perfect partners too. It wasn’t long before success stories started flowing in. My husband, seeing all of this, turned to me and said, “You should write this down. People need this.”

So I did. And that became my book: How to Find Your Soulmate.

A Path for Everyone
Now here’s the lovely part: this formula isn’t just about finding “the one.” It can be about finding a friend, a companion to go to dinner with, or even a partner to play tennis or pickleball with. Whatever your heart longs for, the steps are the same.

It’s really about clarity and energy. When you are clear about what you want, and when you align your energy with love, amazing things happen. The world seems to bend and shift, sending the right people your way.

Love Starts with You
One of the most important things I learned through all of this is that love doesn’t begin with another person. It begins with you. That’s why “being in love now” is such a crucial step. When you live in that feeling, you become magnetic. People are drawn to you, opportunities appear, and before you know it, life feels richer, warmer, and more joyful.

So even if you’re still waiting for your soulmate, you can begin today by embodying love in every little thing you do—smiling at strangers, caring for yourself, filling your days with joy. That love radiates outward, and soon it comes back in the form of a person who matches your heart.

A Gentle Challenge
Here’s a little challenge for you:
Take a quiet moment this week. Sit by a sunny window, grab a pen and paper, and write your letter to the Sun. Be bold. Be clear. And be joyful as you imagine the love you’re calling into your life.

Then place that letter where the sunlight can find it, and let go. Let the universe do its magic.

But don’t forget your part: live today with love in your heart. Smile more, laugh more, and open yourself to the possibility that your soulmate could be just around the corner—or one phone call, one introduction, or one chance encounter away.

Closing Thoughts
Life has a beautiful way of surprising us when we’re ready. And sometimes, the simplest gestures—like writing a letter to the Sun—can open the biggest doors.

So if you’ve been longing for love, wondering how to find it, and hoping for something real, I encourage you to try this little formula. You might just discover that your soulmate has been waiting for you, too.

After all, love is the most natural thing in the world. All we have to do is invite it in.

How to Find Your Soulmate can be found on Amazon through my website.

Eight Golden Rules for How to Play Your Best Tennis
As I sit watching the 2025 U.S. Open on television, I am struck by how little has changed in the sport I have loved all my life. Match after match, player after player, the same mental and emotional struggles are on display—fear, nerves, pressure, frustration. I know them well. I suffered from them too.

In my youth, I was fortunate to win the U.S. and Wimbledon Junior Championships and even become a Wimbledon semi-finalist in the Women’s Division. On the outside, that may have looked like success. But on the inside, I was anything but happy. I was fearful, nervous, and full of doubt. The pressure of expectations—family, coaches, and later, the world stage—made the game something to survive rather than enjoy.

Back then, tennis was played with wooden rackets and without the financial opportunities players have today. But pressure is pressure, whether it comes from a coach’s demands or today’s agents, sponsors, and media scrutiny. That kind of pressure eats away at joy.

So, I did something radical. I quit.

Dance, Zen, and the Birth of Happy Tennis
Walking away from competitive tennis gave me the gift of perspective. I turned to dance therapy, something that seemed far removed from the structured rigidity of competitive tennis. But in dance, I discovered a freedom of movement and expression that I had never felt on the court.

At the same time, I immersed myself in the study of Zen philosophy. The combination of these two practices reshaped my understanding of performance, competition, and joy. I began to realize that the real battle was not against an opponent across the net, but against fear, self-judgment, and ego within myself.

When the ego is removed from the game, something beautiful happens: you play freely. You play joyously. You play without the constant shadow of “what if I lose?” And ironically, you play better.

This was the foundation of what I came to call Happy Tennis—a way of playing that is stress-free, demand-free, relaxed, effortless, and powerful.

Returning to the Court
Fifteen years after I walked away from professional competition, I returned to the game with this new approach. The results were astonishing. In a Virginia Slims event, I defeated the world’s fourth-ranked player. Later, I competed in senior events and rose to become one of the top senior players in the world. But the real triumph was not the trophies—it was the freedom and joy I felt each time I stepped onto the court.

I also began teaching this method to others. Year after year, I watched students transform as they shifted from fear-based playing to joy-based playing. They discovered that tennis is not about taking—points, games, victories—but about giving: giving your best effort, your fullest attention, your truest self to the ball.

That philosophy eventually became the heart of my book, Eight Golden Rules for How to Play Your Best Tennis, a book endorsed by legends Billie Jean King, Mary Carillo, Dick Enberg, and others.

The Golden Rules
Without giving away the entire book, let me share the essence of what these Golden Rules represent.
They are not about technique, topspin, or perfect footwork. They are about the inner game. They show you how to:

• Focus on the ball rather than on yourself.
• Replace judgment with awareness.
• Let go of fear and allow the body to play.
• Treat your body as a trusted partner, not a slave.
• Release the pressure of the score and play in the moment.
• Approach each point as a gift, not a demand.
• Play to give, not to take.
• Rediscover joy on the court—and in life.
  

These rules are simple, but they require practice and intention. They are not only for professionals but for anyone who has ever picked up a racket—whether at your local public park or in the finals of Wimbledon.

The Ball Always Wins
One of the most powerful lessons I learned is this: the ball always wins. Whoever is in harmony with the ball—devoted to it fully, without distraction—will come out ahead. The ball knows if you are paying attention. It knows if you are with it for the love of the game or merely using it to chase a point.

When you shift your focus away from the score, the audience, the trophy, or the money, and simply give yourself to the ball, the game becomes alive. Every shot, every rally, every moment is an opportunity to play.

Tennis as a Metaphor for Life
The beauty of this approach is that it doesn’t stay on the court. Playing tennis with joy and fearlessness naturally spills over into life itself.

Life, like tennis, is full of distractions, noise, and pressure. But when you meet each moment with awareness, generosity, and focus, everything shifts. Instead of trying to take, you give. Instead of struggling, you flow. Instead of fearing outcomes, you live fully in the process.

This is the deeper gift of Eight Golden Rules for How to Play Your Best Tennis: it is a book about tennis, but it is also a book about life.

A Final Thought
As you watch today’s champions at the U.S. Open, or as you step onto the court for your weekend match, I encourage you to ask yourself: am I playing to win—or am I playing to play?

When you learn to love the ball, love the moment, love the movement, and love the game itself, the rest takes care of itself. Winning becomes secondary. Joy becomes primary.

That is Happy Tennis. And that is the way to play your best.

This book is available on Amazon through my website. Click here.

Have You Tried Everything to Lose Weight?If you’ve ever sworn off bread forever, counted calories until your head spun, or found yourself staring at a plate of “miracle” diet cookies wondering if this was really living… you’re not alone.
The diet industry thrives on fads, and history has proven that people will try almost anything in the pursuit of thinness. From swallowing tapeworm eggs (yes, that was a real thing!) to subsisting on nothing but grapefruits, cabbage soup, or shakes, desperate dieters have been sold one quick fix after another.
And yet, here we are. Millions of people are still searching for a method that works.
That’s where CHEW, BABY, CHEW! comes in.

A Fresh Look at Weight Loss
This little book is not a fad, not a gimmick, and definitely not another “miracle cure.” Instead, it takes a refreshingly lighthearted — and yet surprisingly practical — approach to the age-old problem of weight management.

Written with humor, warmth, and a touch of wit, CHEW, BABY, CHEW! shines a spotlight on the absurdity of diet crazes while offering something better: common sense.

At its heart, the book is built on one powerful principle:
Eat mindfully, enjoy real food, and let your body work the way it was designed to.

No need for expensive shots, powders, prepackaged meals, or bizarre rituals. You simply chew your food, savor your meals, and follow simple wisdom that actually makes sense.

Why It Works
Unlike diets that demand perfection or extreme restriction, the approach in CHEW, BABY, CHEW! is sustainable. Here’s why readers find it works when other methods fail:

1. It’s Simple. No complicated charts, no food scales, no eliminating entire food groups. Just straightforward guidance you can follow today.
2. It’s Enjoyable. Eating shouldn’t feel like punishment. This book encourages you to enjoy what you eat — slowly, thoughtfully, and with gratitude.
3. It’s Realistic. Life happens. Holidays, birthdays, and dinners out with friends don’t have to derail you. This book gives you the tools to navigate it all.
4. It’s Sustainable. Because the principles are based on common sense and moderation, they can last a lifetime — not just a month.
   
   

A Dose of Humor Along the Way
Let’s be honest: weight loss can feel heavy. But this book manages to keep things light — even amusing.

By poking fun at the ridiculousness of fad diets through history, CHEW, BABY, CHEW! helps readers laugh at the madness while also realizing: “Oh, I’ve fallen for some of this too.”

And laughter, as it turns out, is pretty good medicine when you’re trying to change habits.

More Than a Book — A Lifelong Companion
What makes CHEW, BABY, CHEW! stand apart is its warmth. It doesn’t scold or preach. Instead, it feels like a wise friend gently reminding you of truths you already know deep down:

• Your body is amazing when you treat it kindly.
• You don’t need extremes to achieve balance.
• The secret is in slowing down, chewing well, and enjoying the process.
  

This isn’t a “read it once and put it away” kind of book. It’s the kind you’ll return to again and again when you need encouragement or a reality check.

Who Should Read CHEW, BABY, CHEW!

• Anyone who has tried diet after diet without lasting success.
• Those tired of confusing rules and ever-changing fads.
• People who want to laugh while learning practical wisdom.
• Anyone seeking not just weight loss, but better overall health.

The Bottom Line
If you’re ready to stop chasing fads and start embracing a healthier, saner way to live, CHEW, BABY, CHEW! may be the last weight loss book you’ll ever need.

It’s funny, it’s wise, and most importantly — it works.

Because sometimes, the simplest advice really is the best:
Chew, baby, chew. This little gem of a book may be found on Amazon through my website. Click here.