Life is like a game of golf
Bob Hruzek’s group writing project this month has set us the challenge of using a metaphor for life. I have been wrestling with this since he first announced it and really thought that I should just opt out this time round but I was sitting here after a particularly bad round of golf and got to thinking that life is a bit like that really. Sometimes great with everything going along tickety boo and then at others – nothing seems to go the way you wanted. Why would that be?
It might be the way you are pointed. I understand from my husband that my feet are often not pointing in the direction I intend to hit. A bit like life really – if you aim in the right direction you get better – or more satisfying results.
It might be that the weight behind your swing is not right. That means you come up short of the hole and – in my experience – that makes for a tricky shot to finish. So in life coming up short - because you did not put enough effort into what you were doing might make it a bit harder to reach your target.
What about beating yourself up because the previous shot did not live up to expectations. In a recent golf lesson my tutor said that he liked the way that I celebrated my good shots ( oh where was he today when I needed him!) as too many golfers focus mainly on the bad stuff. In life then – celebrating the good stuff can make dealing with the more challenging issues that wee bit easier!
I always play better if I can’t see other golfers behind me. I make an assumption that they are better than me and that I am likely to hold them up. As a result I go into ”hacking” mode with my shots – which just does not work. And in life too many people I meet compare themselves unfavourably to others without any evidence that they are indeed “better” than them.
Then there is focus. After I learned to coach I read the Inner Game of Golf by Timothy Gallwey. In the book he gives a tip about focus and I created my own “mantra” to chant when taking a shot ( actually I might try again that next time…) which served the purpose of cutting out all other distractions. In life – what we can achieve can be affected by all sorts of distractions – criticism, unfavourable comparison ( see above), limiting beliefs. … I could go on!
At about half way round the course I usually start to flag. We sometimes take a chocolate bar to give us a quick sugar boost but mostly I just work through it . I hit the big 5 0 last year – maybe that impacts on my stamina in the game ( of course it does!!) but it is no reason to expect that the second half of my life will be less wonderful than the first half!
It might be that you don’t have the right equipment – No! No! No! It is never about not having the right equipment in golf or in life. Attitude, skills and knowledge – that’s what is needed. No fancy putter or Gucci handbag will change that.
So there you go. Non-golfers might well be scratching their heads…well in fact non-golfers probably clicked away at the top of the post. Any comments from the folks out there can empathise?
Aug 08, 2008
An excellent set of analogies for your Golf is Life metaphor, Jackie! I like that last one about the equipment, too. Very powerful, and it often serves as a negative focus if we’re not careful.
As you noted, practically the entire game is actually waged internally, not externally. Powerful lessons and a great example for anyone!
Good job! Definitely tickety-boo!
Aug 09, 2008
You have wonderful insights here, Jackie. I can especially relate to playing with people behind you. If you can put that out of your mind, life is grand! (Sometimes hard to do, though.) Having turned 50 myself recently, I can relate to your penultimate point as well. You might try a Gatorade every few holes on a hot day to keep the engine cool.
Aug 09, 2008
Jackie,
I’m not a golfer but I still enjoyed your metaphor. I understood the lessons if not the golf stuff.
Aug 09, 2008
Bob – thanks for the kind comments. I hear far too many people telling me that they cannot be complete in some way without the latest gadget or some such…
Brad – just bought some Gatorade this evening for my son. It is not so big here in the UK as it is in the US so when we see it we buy it. I think it smells disgusting – but I will bear your suggestion in mind !!!
Lillie…I am glad my comments made sense in a life context.
Aug 11, 2008
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Aug 12, 2008
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Aug 12, 2008
Nice post, the bit about ones feet pointing in the right direction, has particular resonance for me right now.
Aug 13, 2008
Hi Rob… I got some tips on how to point my feet in the right direction for golf. It seems so simple in principle – but it takes practice.
I hope what you are doing goes well for you.
Jackie
Aug 14, 2008
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Aug 20, 2008
Jackie, last week I played in a golf tournament. Boy, it was fun. Just before the tournament I wanted to shore up my game so I took a lesson. Interestingly I had forgotten some of the basics especially about facing the target as I finish the shot since that helps with your follow through. Isn’t it interesting that we learn so much about life in a game of golf.
Great post!