17/09/2026
🏓 P.I.C.K.L.E DAY 2026 · PART 1
16.09.2026
After the Event Ends, What Did We Really See?
“Why is LCTE always one of the last ones to post?” 😂
Because we don’t just want to post what happened — we want to share what it meant. ❤️
And when we look back at P.I.C.K.L.E DAY 2026, we realise it was about so much more than just pickleball.
Beyond the paddles, games and laughter, what stayed with us was this wonderful group of athletes from Special Olympics Selangor. ❤️
We saw them step onto the court, wait for their turns, try to understand the games, make mistakes, try again and slowly find their own rhythm. Some needed a little more time or assistance. But once they started playing, some of them really made us go, “Eh… actually quite good leh!” 😂🏓
And that made us realise something. Sometimes, we are too quick to judge someone based on what we see at first glance. Someone may move differently, react differently or need a little help, and we immediately assume they may not be able to do something.
But give them an opportunity. Give them some time. Let them try.
And you may see a completely different picture.
❤️ And then we noticed something else.
When it was their child’s turn to play, some of the mums would quietly come alongside them. Not to take over, but to guide, remind and support them so the child could still complete their own turn.
That moment may have lasted only a few minutes on the court. But behind those few minutes is something much bigger.
These parents spend their own time bringing their children for lessons, training and activities. They arrange their schedules, drive them around, wait for them and accompany them. Many of these children are not yet able to do all these things independently.
So behind every lesson, every training session and every activity, there are parents making time around their own work and lives.
Again and again. Year after year.
What we see on the court today may only be a few hours. But behind that child standing there with a paddle is a family that has spent years giving their time, energy, patience and love to help their child learn, participate and become more independent. ❤️
And I think that is something we don’t always see.
We see the athlete.
We see the game.
We see the smiles.
But sometimes, we don’t see everything that happened before they even arrived at the court.
❤️ Maybe that is what inclusion really means.
It is more than simply inviting someone to our event and taking a group photo together.
It is not just saying, “We served Special Olympics today,” and moving on.
Sometimes, real inclusion means being willing to slow down, explain one more time, wait a little longer, allow someone to try and respect their own pace.
And sometimes, instead of expecting them to adjust to our rhythm, we learn to adjust to theirs.
Because real service is not only about asking:
“What did we do for them?”
Maybe we should also ask:
“Did we truly see them?”
Of course, P.I.C.K.L.E DAY 2026 was a pickleball activity. We played, laughed, learned and yes… we definitely had our share of moments that were far from perfect. 😂
But its meaning goes beyond simply saying, “We successfully organised another event.”
Sometimes, when we think we are there to serve others, we realise that they are teaching us too.
Teaching us patience. Teaching us not to judge too quickly. Teaching us to respect different rhythms. And reminding us that some of the smallest achievements may have years of effort behind them.
So for this first part, we’re not talking about the awards yet. 🏆 We’re not talking about how chaotic the day became. 😂 And we’re definitely not talking about who got FOULED OUT by our referee. 🤣
Those stories can wait.
For now, we simply want the spotlight to be on the athletes who stepped onto the court — and the families behind them who continue to support, encourage and walk alongside them. ❤️
Because we came thinking we were there to serve them.
But after the event, we realised something…
Maybe they were teaching us too. 🦁❤️
Not just how to play pickleball, but how to be a little more patient, a little less judgmental, and a little more willing to truly see the people in front of us.
And perhaps, this is what “We Serve” looks like. ❤️🏓
