I’ve never been a sporty type.

From lurking (and surreptitiously reading!) in the outfield during a middle school baseball game, to spraining my back when I first attempted a forward roll and huffing and puffing in the gym as classmates ran around me, my lack of athletic prowess is longstanding.

In A Surprise for the Single Dad, my next Strawberry Pond sweet contemporary romance as Jen Gilroy for Harlequin Heartwarming (out May 2026), I’ve given the heroine, Laura Sullivan, some of my own gym class misadventures.

Fast forward to now and no one is more surprised than me that I’m more physically active than ever and enjoying, rather than enduring, working up a sweat.

In addition to daily walks with Floppy Ears, I recently took one Zumba and three ballet classes in a week. My feet (and the rest of me) were sore, but I also felt better for the activity.

Vigorous exercise gets me out of my head and away from my laptop. And when I’m focused on moving my body, my ‘busy brain’ slows down.

Especially when I’m stressed, physical activity improves my mood, helps distract me from worries and lowers anxiety.

Through ballet and Zumba, I’ve also made new friends and found new communities.

As for persistence paying off?

In ballet I’ve finally managed a jump I haven’t done since my early teens, and the sense of accomplishment is immense.

Although I can keep the structure of an entire book in my head while I’m writing it, my next challenge is remembering the choreography for a dance that’s less than two minutes long.

However, I’m persevering and, in stretching my mind and body, I’m boosting physical and mental health.

While the thought of running track, playing volleyball and most other team sports still sends a cold chill down my spine, I no longer dread working out.

Despite the doubters, dance is not only an art but also a sport.

Another bonus? My role in the end-of-year ballet performance means I get to wear a pretty dance dress with a floaty skirt. Bucket list goal achieved!