Derwin
06-19-2008, 08:05 PM
Well, I just got back from shooting 18 holes of golf today. Nothing unusual, though. I play golf at least 3 or 4 times a week. But today I learned a valuable lesson that not only applies to my golf game, but to life in general.
We were playing at a club where we are members. We had a simple bet for a fun $15 to whoever shot the lowest score. I was playing exceptionally well (for me!), and I was really beating my brother mercilessly. We only had 3 holes to go. We come up to the 16th hole....143 yard par 3. I figure....no problem. I get out my trusty 7 iron and attempt to hit the shot. I hit what seemed to be a fantastic shot right at the green/pin. but then it dropped suddenly about 5 yards in front of the green.
This green has a creek running right in front of it. So you have to hit OVER the creek in order to get your ball on the green. Usually this is no problem, but today I found out it was a BIG problem for me. I went up to my ball, which was just a couple yards from the creek, and I plunk it right into the water! Then I dropped another ball, and done the same. Then I did it A THIRD TIME!
Well, I was sooooo frustrated, that I GAVE UP on the hole. I told my brother that HE WON, and I'm not even going to finish the hole out because I was so upset.
We then go to the 17th hole and tee-off. I hit an incredible drive right up the middle. My brother shanked his to the left. I hit my second shot right up near the green, and then put in for par. My brother got a double bogey.
We go to the 18th hole and tee-off. I hit another great drive, except this time a bit to the right. I hit my second shot on the green.....get par. My brother ended up getting a 9 on the hole!
I was ahead of him the entire round, and then actually would have won! But because I GAVE UP on the 16th hole, I forfeited the match. I gave up because in my mind I thought I was finished, and that there was NO WAY that I could ever "come back" and win. I thought I had messed up way too much on that single hole, and could never rebound after that. I truly gave up.
Isn't this what some people do in life? We look at the hurdles that are in front of us, and think to ourselves....there's just no way I am going to be able to overcome that. We may even make mistakes in our lives.....wrong decisions that hurt us in the short term.....and then we resign ourselves to mediocrity. Leaving our dreams lay stagnant because we simply lose belief in ourselves that we can actually accomplish them.
My little golf game today taught me to NEVER GIVE UP in golf again. But it has revived an old belief that I have always had......NEVER GIVE UP IN LIFE, EITHER. No matter how hard it seems, or how impossible the task......KEEP YOUR DREAM ALIVE. Go for it. After all, what's the worst that could possibly happen? You fail. Well.....news bulletin to everybody...and myself.....We all fail at something/sometime in our lives.
Here is a favorite quote of mine from Teddy Roosevelt:
Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure, than to take rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much, because they live in the gray twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat.
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I can assure you that I will NEVER give up no matter how bleak the outcome may look. I will continue to press on no matter how the current circumstances around me may appear.
This is not only a lesson in Golf.....But in life itself.
Derwin
P.S. Sorry for my little ramble, but this is the "cigar lounge" and I had to get this off my chest! All sermons will be available in the atrium for a small contribution! Thanks for listening.
We were playing at a club where we are members. We had a simple bet for a fun $15 to whoever shot the lowest score. I was playing exceptionally well (for me!), and I was really beating my brother mercilessly. We only had 3 holes to go. We come up to the 16th hole....143 yard par 3. I figure....no problem. I get out my trusty 7 iron and attempt to hit the shot. I hit what seemed to be a fantastic shot right at the green/pin. but then it dropped suddenly about 5 yards in front of the green.
This green has a creek running right in front of it. So you have to hit OVER the creek in order to get your ball on the green. Usually this is no problem, but today I found out it was a BIG problem for me. I went up to my ball, which was just a couple yards from the creek, and I plunk it right into the water! Then I dropped another ball, and done the same. Then I did it A THIRD TIME!
Well, I was sooooo frustrated, that I GAVE UP on the hole. I told my brother that HE WON, and I'm not even going to finish the hole out because I was so upset.
We then go to the 17th hole and tee-off. I hit an incredible drive right up the middle. My brother shanked his to the left. I hit my second shot right up near the green, and then put in for par. My brother got a double bogey.
We go to the 18th hole and tee-off. I hit another great drive, except this time a bit to the right. I hit my second shot on the green.....get par. My brother ended up getting a 9 on the hole!
I was ahead of him the entire round, and then actually would have won! But because I GAVE UP on the 16th hole, I forfeited the match. I gave up because in my mind I thought I was finished, and that there was NO WAY that I could ever "come back" and win. I thought I had messed up way too much on that single hole, and could never rebound after that. I truly gave up.
Isn't this what some people do in life? We look at the hurdles that are in front of us, and think to ourselves....there's just no way I am going to be able to overcome that. We may even make mistakes in our lives.....wrong decisions that hurt us in the short term.....and then we resign ourselves to mediocrity. Leaving our dreams lay stagnant because we simply lose belief in ourselves that we can actually accomplish them.
My little golf game today taught me to NEVER GIVE UP in golf again. But it has revived an old belief that I have always had......NEVER GIVE UP IN LIFE, EITHER. No matter how hard it seems, or how impossible the task......KEEP YOUR DREAM ALIVE. Go for it. After all, what's the worst that could possibly happen? You fail. Well.....news bulletin to everybody...and myself.....We all fail at something/sometime in our lives.
Here is a favorite quote of mine from Teddy Roosevelt:
Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure, than to take rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much, because they live in the gray twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat.
[/COLOR]
I can assure you that I will NEVER give up no matter how bleak the outcome may look. I will continue to press on no matter how the current circumstances around me may appear.
This is not only a lesson in Golf.....But in life itself.
Derwin
P.S. Sorry for my little ramble, but this is the "cigar lounge" and I had to get this off my chest! All sermons will be available in the atrium for a small contribution! Thanks for listening.