One of the things I managed to develop this month is a new hobby: badminton. I wouldn’t say it’s new—I used to play all the time with my family when I was in primary school—but it is definitely one of those hobbies that require friends and, well, that’s where I fall short. Not only do we need friends for this kind of competitive sports, you know, but also friends who have the same kind of idea of what sports should look like. A lot of people see it as a chance to really excel and hone their skills. Me—I see it just as a fun way to move my body, plain and simple. So I don’t want to see any score-keeping, jeering and one-upping situation. This is not a performance, it’s play.
One of the things I managed to develop this month is a new hobby: badminton. I wouldn’t say it’s new—I used to play all the time with my family when I was in primary school—but it is definitely one of those hobbies that require friends and, well, that’s where I fall short. Not only do we need friends for this kind of competitive sports, you know, but also friends who have the same kind of idea of what sports should look like. A lot of people see it as a chance to really excel and hone their skills. Me—I see it just as a fun way to move my body, plain and simple. So I don’t want to see any score-keeping, jeering and one-upping situation. This is not a performance, it’s play.
Lately, Agung and I have been in the habit of playing badminton on the weekends. If the weather permits, you best believe we will saunter off and play a few sets. He is undoubtedly more athletic and better at sports than I am—except maybe swimming, nobody beats me at swimming—but I’m glad he is pretty patient and understanding towards my slow progress. He’s got to know I’m trying, right?
To be honest, we’ve only started 2-3 weeks ago, so it actually hasn’t been that often. I don’t remember what set it off at first, but one day we just decided to gather the materials we would need. Agung has got the rackets covered and we bought the shuttlecocks separately. Then we headed to Gelora Bung Karno—the sports complex at the city center—which we felt was probably the most comfortable place for it.
Lately, Agung and I have been in the habit of playing badminton on the weekends. If the weather permits, you best believe we will saunter off and play a few sets. He is undoubtedly more athletic and better at sports than I am—except maybe swimming, nobody beats me at swimming—but I’m glad he is pretty patient and understanding towards my slow progress. He’s got to know I’m trying, right?
To be honest, we’ve only started 2-3 weeks ago, so it actually hasn’t been that often. I don’t remember what set it off at first, but one day we just decided to gather the materials we would need. Agung has got the rackets covered and we bought the shuttlecocks separately. Then we headed to Gelora Bung Karno—the sports complex at the city center—which we felt was probably the most comfortable place for it.
My Relationship with Sports
If I’m being totally honest, I am not big into sports—almost at all. I used to love P.E. at school, though. I love being able to relinquish the school desk and move my body about for a change. I love the fun of playing in team sports just for the hell of it. I love the sweat my body produces, reminding me that I am still physically capable. That being said, I kind of stop doing any of that after I graduated from high school.Without the force of obligatory education, I really find no reason to go the extra mile—like waking up early or keeping an appointment—to work up a sweat. Then I started doing it solo—pilates sessions, jogging, etc.—but that gets pretty boring real fast. The only work out I enjoy is swimming—but that quickly went to bust when my swimsuit no longer fit my body.
To top it all off, I also don’t particularly enjoy watching sports. Any sports. The process doesn’t get me all riled up and excited—just give me the final score. So, whenever other people get worked up about the latest football league, badminton tournaments or even the MotoGP, I really couldn’t care less. Just tell me who won and who lost—I’m really not interested in knowing how it happened. Needless to say, it was very hard to inspire myself to actually work out and nurture myself physically.
Hand-me-down top // thrifted East West jacket (gift) + pants // old shoes // photos by Agung
My Relationship with Sports
If I’m being totally honest, I am not big into sports—almost at all. I used to love P.E. at school, though. I love being able to relinquish the school desk and move my body about for a change. I love the fun of playing in team sports just for the hell of it. I love the sweat my body produces, reminding me that I am still physically capable. That being said, I kind of stop doing any of that after I graduated from high school.Without the force of obligatory education, I really find no reason to go the extra mile—like waking up early or keeping an appointment—to work up a sweat. Then I started doing it solo—pilates sessions, jogging, etc.—but that gets pretty boring real fast. The only work out I enjoy is swimming—but that quickly went to bust when my swimsuit no longer fit my body.
To top it all off, I also don’t particularly enjoy watching sports. Any sports. The process doesn’t get me all riled up and excited—just give me the final score. So, whenever other people get worked up about the latest football league, badminton tournaments or even the MotoGP, I really couldn’t care less. Just tell me who won and who lost—I’m really not interested in knowing how it happened. Needless to say, it was very hard to inspire myself to actually work out and nurture myself physically.
Hand-me-down top // thrifted East West jacket (gift) + pants // old shoes // photos by Agung
Not only that, this way we can also be close to nature—albeit still in the big city. Previously, my work out of choice, pilates, has always been done indoors. I don’t have a conducive garden of my own to do it outside—or the confidence the size of Mt. Everest to do it in public—so it can feel suffocating for the most part. I prefer moving my body outdoors, specifically with a purpose in mind—jogging mindlessly down a route can feel very boring to me.
Personally, I find hiking a lot more satisfying—although you can’t really do it in the city, can you?—or having some wander around unfamiliar neighbourhoods. It may not burn a lot of calories or pump up your heart rate, but it’s so much more fun.
However, what I do like—outside of sports—is to spend as much time as I can with my beloved. And often, that means doing something that he loves too. Luckily, Agung loves sports—not religiously or anything, but more than I do, at least. And this love inspires me to do the same.
Oftentimes I find working out to be a waste of time, mostly because I keep thinking that I could be doing something that I love instead—like reading, blogging or cooking. This undoubtedly solves that problem by allowing me to still spend some quality time while keeping my body fit—bonus point since Agung loves it too. I forgot how fun sports could be.
Not only that, this way we can also be close to nature—albeit still in the big city. Previously, my work out of choice, pilates, has always been done indoors. I don’t have a conducive garden of my own to do it outside—or the confidence the size of Mt. Everest to do it in public—so it can feel suffocating for the most part. I prefer moving my body outdoors, specifically with a purpose in mind—jogging mindlessly down a route can feel very boring to me.
Personally, I find hiking a lot more satisfying—although you can’t really do it in the city, can you?—or having some wander around unfamiliar neighbourhoods. It may not burn a lot of calories or pump up your heart rate, but it’s so much more fun.
However, what I do like—outside of sports—is to spend as much time as I can with my beloved. And often, that means doing something that he loves too. Luckily, Agung loves sports—not religiously or anything, but more than I do, at least. And this love inspires me to do the same.
Oftentimes I find working out to be a waste of time, mostly because I keep thinking that I could be doing something that I love instead—like reading, blogging or cooking. This undoubtedly solves that problem by allowing me to still spend some quality time while keeping my body fit—bonus point since Agung loves it too. I forgot how fun sports could be.
Third Time’s the Charm
Make no mistake, this has been Agung’s 3rd attempt to get me to work out—the first two being cycling and jogging. Again, I don’t hate cycling—one of my favourite pastimes in primary school and uni—but we are at very different levels of expertise and have different understandings on how cycling can be fun. Jogging, on the other hand, is just so damn boring—unless, I guess, if I were to run around the woods, but where can you find one in the city, seriously? Badminton fits just right, since we both love playing it just for the sake of playing. But I’m eager to explore other sports activities we could try together. Next, I’m definitely eyeing the pool, since that’s my territory. Well, we’ll see.
What’s your favourite sports activity?
Third Time’s the Charm
Make no mistake, this has been Agung’s 3rd attempt to get me to work out—the first two being cycling and jogging. Again, I don’t hate cycling—one of my favourite pastimes in primary school and uni—but we are at very different levels of expertise and have different understandings on how cycling can be fun. Jogging, on the other hand, is just so damn boring—unless, I guess, if I were to run around the woods, but where can you find one in the city, seriously? Badminton fits just right, since we both love playing it just for the sake of playing. But I’m eager to explore other sports activities we could try together. Next, I’m definitely eyeing the pool, since that’s my territory. Well, we’ll see.
What’s your favourite sports activity?