Golf is a difficult game. I don’t play often, but when I do, I’m reminded that there are some things in life that just don’t come easy, no matter how it looks on TV. And I’ve found I usually play better when I don’t try too hard. What a conundrum. When I play my number one goal is to lose as few golf balls as possible. I don’t always succeed.
A few months ago, Tiger Woods won the Masters. This wouldn’t have sounded unusual 15 years ago, except for the fact that his life went in a much different direction than expected, mostly due to some poor decision making. I’m still shocked that after years of health problems and personal issues that he was able to win a major championship. Regardless of his personal issues, it was quite a compelling comeback story.
Does it ever feel like our best days are behind us? I would think Tiger would have felt his best days were behind him at some point over these past 10 years. I’m sure there are times we may miss the “good ole days” as we reminisce about how much better things used to be. And to some extent that might be true. I think that we often remember the past as either being better or worse than it actually was. Our selective memories can fool us. There are moments when I want to go back 15 years to when my kids were young because they were small, cute, and controllable. But on second thought, do I really want to go back? It can be easy to remember the cuteness and fun times, but what about those late nights and when they learn the word “no!” Hmmm, maybe things aren’t so bad after all right now.
As we go through life and the years tick away, I hope that we are able to live more fully in the present. We may be more limited in some ways than before, perhaps we’re a step (or 2) slower. Maybe we’re a pound (or 2) heavier. But most of this change is normal, whether we like it or not. And instead of longing for days gone by, it may be best to embrace the day we have before us and to make the most of it. How can we make today, this day, the best day possible?
Maybe our best days aren’t behind us. As for golf, I hope better days are ahead for me, because I need to learn how to hit it straight.
“There are far, far better things ahead, than any we leave behind.”
C.S. Lewis