Im not sure how to begin these writings...
For the past 12 years I have made a living as a professional artist. What you are about to read is not how I struggled and starved to make art and feed my passion. This is not how successful I have become or how people collect my work around the world. This is not how Ive slept in my van in parking lots or campgrounds just to make and sell art.
We all know it takes hard work and dedication to be successful at what you love to do...
This story is about something different...
In the spring of 2011 I had a life changing opportunity. During one of the hardest times of my life I learned valuable life lessons; I learned patience and I learned a lot about myself. Some may not call a heartbreak an opportunity, but here recently I realized it was. Today, I reflect back to the spring of 2011 when I picked up a tennis racket for the first time. Some may compare this to picking up a paintbrush for the first time... It was intimidating...it was new...it was completely foreign...and it was a little scary not knowing what I was doing chasing a little yellow fuzzy ball. There were several days I had tears across the court under my sunglasses, there were several days where If it had not been for tennis, I would not have eaten...To this day, I owe tennis for saving my life.
This past fall, out of no where really, I was asked to be on a tennis league out of Lafayette, LA. Whats so fascinating-to me about this, Is initially someone from a Lafayette team called me asking for a donation for the Lafayette High School Golf Tournament. I get donation requests every single day, but this one was different. The lady knew nothing about me really, other than I was an artist and I had just started playing tennis a little over a year ago. Later that same evening I got a call back, on a more "personal note", she said....it was a call to come and practice with a team in Lafayette. I was thrilled! I brought my best game, joined the team and even became a member of a new athletic club that same day. Dedication.
Every Monday I would drive an hour and a half to be with my team, to practice, to play, to win and to stay dedicated to this new lifelong passion called Tennis. The more I played, the more I learned patience, mental control, and the more I loved it. Tennis has not only become a valuable part of my life, but it also promotes my business. I create art pieces and apparel using my tennis designs. Some designs travel to tournaments on ladies clothing state and even nationwide!
I sit here at my desk today, with a heavy chest- half united with beautiful happiness, the other a sweet sadness. Im not sure what this feeling is actually, and Im sure Im not the only one on my team experiencing it. This past weekend my same team of Lafayette women - "Ragin' Rackets" , and myself had an opportunity to win second place in the Louisiana State Tennis Championship Tournament in Baton Rouge. Even though we didnt win like we all wanted to- I know for certain that I took something home with me even more amazing than a medal or a trophy... I took home a team of new friends, memories of winners, and battles within ourselves.
I have been sitting with all of this, completely inspired to share something so amazing. I have experienced something awesome on a personal and a team level, and for that I am grateful to be such a part of a new passion: tennis and Ragin Rackets!
~Candice
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