What Golf has taught be about life...so far

Here are a few things golf has taught me about life.

Power is ineffective unless you know how to use it right.

I am a fairly strong person. I can bench press my own weight, I have fairly strong arms and really strong legs. I can generate a lot of power. I can really TRY to hit the ball as hard as I can. When I tried to do that, and tried to force the ball 200 yards I hit it 95 yards and with a slice. When I relaxed and focused on my technique and how I used my power I was able to hit the ball well.

Just because you have power doesn't mean you will do good, or be good. You have to use your power correctly before you can do what you want. If you tell a person what they have to do, if you force them to do something they don't want to do then it won't happen. If you have power and can use it well you can get someone to do something because they want to.

Go OUTSIDE

Going outside into nature is really relaxing. Listening to the birds might help you get get more birdies and eagles.

Even when I was out at the driving range, and not on the course, I just marveled at how relaxing the whole experience was. I loved just listening to the birds chirp. I felt like I was in my element. It was so relaxing and it was such an escape from everyday life.

Getting off of the couch, and away from a computer screen or television screen and enjoying nature is a good and healthy thing to do every once in a while. I'm not saying you need to go hug trees, but enjoying nature is something that people should do more often. Walking through the woods beats reality television everyday of the week. Go visit a national park when you get the chance. Watch the leaves change in the fall. It's healthy to do that.

Focus on the GOOD and not the bad.

When I have been at the driving range lately I have taken a lot of bad shots. I have sliced shots so badly that they probably hit, or almost hit and startled people who were standing behind the driving range nets. However, I don't remember most of those shots. What I remember are the shots that I watched and looked so beautiful. Ones that went far and straight with my driver, or ones that went straight up in the air and right by the green, or marker I was aiming for when using my pitching wedge and sand wedge. Focusing on the good allows me to regroup from mistakes much more easily and makes me look forward to playing.

Leaving a situation thinking about the positives makes you much more confident and much happier. When you think about the negatives you won't persevere through problems. You will give up too easily. If you focus on the negatives you won't be as happy or as fun to be with. When you are positive people want to be around you and you are much more likely to have confidence, to relax and to do well. You will most importantly be happy and be more of a go-getter.

Be Patient

Everyone wants to go to a driving range or on to the course and be the best player right away. However, golf, and for that matter pretty much nothing else is that easy. It takes time and lots of practice before you will master the game and be anywhere close to the skill levels of those who have played for a long time.

Most things don't come easily, they take time and they take work. Having patience will also allow you to overcome obstacles. If you are impatient you give up too easily. If you are impatient and force things they don't usually work out.

It Forges Relationships

I have gotten to know Mr. Brooks (who is a family friend who is letting me live at his house while I work) so much better because he is teaching me golf. We are much closer then before. Golf gives us something in common that no one can take away from us. When I play golf in the future I will be reminded of him. I know that going to driving range is something that my long time friend Brian and I have been doing lately when I have been home. It allows us to catch-up and reminisce about old times.

Golf brings people together. Many relationships are built from going to a golf club regularly. It's a game you play with family and friends. Golf becomes more than just golf, it becomes about spending time with those that mean the most to you. Many of my friends play golf and that has certainly motivated me to learn the game. I have no problem if my friends don't invite me to play, or don't want to be around me or don't like me (then why would they be my friend? good question) or don't want me to play with them. That is fine, I don't mind those reasons. My inability to play is not a reason that is acceptable. I want to learn how to play so I have the ability to play and then since I can play hopefully spend more time with friends and family.

I can't say that I am the best at spending time with friends. I often like time to myself and I really like exercising when I'm not working. When I get free time the word exercise comes to my mind before anything else. I also like to get in to a routine and it can be difficult to break that. However, I am getting much better at just doing things on a whim and spending time with friends. Someone recently called me unpredictable which is a first. I liked that compliment because it was new and I've actually been trying to just be a little bit more unpredictable.

Spending time with friends is rewarding and is something I enjoy doing even when I occasionally wonder why exactly it is that I am traveling a few hours to do something I don't exactly want to do. I've realized the best part is the shared memory not the actual activity that you are taking part in.

P.S. This is probably my favorite thing that I have written for my blog, especially recently. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. I don't have time to proofread right now, but I will because this post deserves to be perfect.