It may sometimes be a little easier exercising patience with others rather than ourselves. Perhaps, because we expect to do (whatever ) even better than before or perhaps we want to do it as good or better than most people. In short, we want to be better than the rest. We don’t want to wait- WE WANT IT NOW!!! SLOW DOWN. LIFE IS NOT A COMPETITON. Well, perhaps for some.
My last few rounds of golf was not pretty. I’ve been in a bit of a rut lately. You know when your buddies tell you to pick up a three foot putt, they can feel your pain. They know. Why? Because THEY like most golfers have been there before. When we hear professional golfers refer to golf as ‘ a tough game.’ They also know that the game can be feast or famine. But watching this malnourished golfer struggling was perhaps like watching a wounded bird (what a visual paradox), and wondering if it will ever fly again, or possibly get eaten.
As I stood there admiring the great shots my partners were hitting I realized that I really like playing with these guys. We keep each other encouraged. We laugh at one another, laugh at ourselves. Of course, we want to play well, but we’re not hot shot competitors. That’s what keeps me coming back, not just the golf but the whole experience; the camaraderie, the beauty of the course, being outdoors and taking in the splendor of nature.
One of my closest friends (Reggie) plays golf but he hasn’t actually played in years. He bought an OCCULUS and decided he wanted to play golf. He explained to me that, like chess, it is possible to play against people in other states even other countries. Something I knew nothing about.
This one particular day he played against a guy who whipped him like Mike Tyson. He told me that the guy seemed a little perturbed that he wasn’t any competition. The guy told him to next time check out the person’s handicap before hand. In other words, STAY IN YOUR OWN LANE. DON’T COME OUT HERE AND TRY TO HANG OUT WITH THE BIG BOYS AND GIRLS!
I couldn’t help but feel his pain as he licked his wounds. ” Hey, doesn’t this guy know that we all had to start somewhere.” I told him. Then I thought about it, maybe he had a point. Perhaps, next time he should check. It can be a bit discouraging to be out of your league. Some of us are what I consider late bloomers. I didn’t even hold a golf club in my hands until just about my mid-thirties, which was when I was introduced to this game.
It’s been an enjoyable ride, a lot of ups and downs but more ups than downs. But overall I count my blessings; at least I’m physically able to swing a golf club. There are some people who, perhaps, used to play but can’t anymore due to physical limitations. However, there are some who defy the odds. Why? Because they love the game too. And like me, they realize that the real competition is within one’s own self. My aim is to get better at the game as well the social aspect as well as taking in the beauty and the design of the course.
When I was a ranger at Delaware park golf course (a municipal golf course located in Buffalo, N.Y.), I used to see a guy playing with one arm. He was right handed and had no left arm (no prosthetic). Guess what? Every time I watched him hit the ball, it went straight as an arrow. He had such a smooth swing. Okay, I’ll come out and I’ll admit it-I was a little jealous.
So, if we are struggling with our game, have NO FEAR, it will come back eventually. As it has been put, ‘PATIENCE IS A VIRTUE.’ We’ll never improve if we aren’t patient with ourselves. It’s a process. Put in the time. Practice the right techniques. Then trust the process.
One thing I do know is that whatever your handicap -there is always room for improvement and even professional golfers have to sometimes exercise patience. Why? Because they (like the rest of us) have no other choice.
UNTI NEXT TIME. STAY FOCUSED, BE WELL. AND LIVE YOUR BEST LIFE!
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