“I don’t think I would be where I am today without the Y. Just mentally and physically, I feel better.” - Patrick, Haselwood Family YMCA member
Patrick has always thought of himself as a positive person. His coworkers and family saw him that way too.
But a few years ago, that outward positivity didn’t always match how he felt internally.
“There was a lot of negativity,” Patrick said. “I always projected positivity. But inside, I just mentally was not there.”
At the same time, his physical health was starting to catch up with him. By late 2022, Patrick was about 60 pounds overweight and prediabetic. One morning, he bent down to tie his shoes and found himself struggling to breathe.
That moment got his attention.
“Something has to change,” he remembers thinking.
A New Routine at the Y
Soon after, his friend Chuck invited him to the Haselwood Family YMCA to play pickleball.
Patrick had never played before, but he agreed to give it a shot. After four or five games, he was hooked. He came in on Chuck’s guest pass and signed up for a membership of his own that same day.
Patrick began coming to the Y regularly. He played pickleball, started lifting weights, and eventually found himself at the center as many as six days a week.
The physical changes came quickly. Patrick lost weight, gained strength, and began having more energy for work, family, and activities he enjoyed. His health improvements also motivated him to stay on top of doctor visits and other aspects of his wellbeing.
The social side of the Y took shape just as quickly.
“The friendship part, it didn’t really take long,” Patrick said. “Like the first day, I met people I still talk to.”
Building Community Through Pickleball
Pickleball became the center of a growing network of friendships. Patrick is now part of several pickleball group chats made up of people he met at the Y. They play together at courts around the area and stay connected outside of their regular games.
For someone who describes himself as naturally shy, that community helped him feel more comfortable putting himself out there. He began hiking and kayaking more, and even returned to motorcycle riding.
The relationships he built at the Y extended beyond pickleball, too.
Familiar Faces and Encouragement
Patrick remembers Y staff helping him learn workout techniques, encouraging him through difficult lifts, and taking time to talk with him. He still appreciates the simple familiarity of walking into the Y and seeing people he knows.
When asked what he had found there, Patrick described it as “motivation, camaraderie, and just positivity.”
Those connections became especially meaningful because of what he had been experiencing internally.
Regular exercise helped Patrick clear his mind, and being around encouraging people gave him a place to focus his energy and feel connected. Over time, the people close to him also noticed the change.
“My coworkers and my family started telling me, ‘You’ve changed. You’ve taken your life to a different level,” he said.
Connection That Lasts
Patrick’s experience shows how connection can grow from something as simple as being invited to join a game.
A few rounds of pickleball led to friendships, group chats, familiar faces, and a community Patrick now considers an important part of his life.
Patrick has a simple message for the staff and members who have supported him along the way.
“Thank you for being positive. Thank you for being uplifting.”
Years after that first guest visit, Patrick is still coming back.
“I don’t think I would be where I am today without the Y,” he said. “Just mentally and physically, I feel better.”