Stone recently played a round of golf with friends. On the first nine holes, Stone was not Stone. Stone was letting a situation take him outside the moment. What should have been a joyful time was slowly being ruined – missing was the conversations, the laughter and the continual bonding of friends. In its place was a snapped 7-iron and silence.
Then came the back nine. Stone had a self-talk to remind himself the importance of every moment. This day would soon be gone and what was to be gained? And what could be lost? Stone returned and next nine holes were full of laughter. As I stood on the 18th green (watching someone chip in from 20 yards for a birdie), I looked around the course and let the November sun warm my face thinking “how fortunate am I?”
In life, Stone is on the Back Nine. I’m reminded that I only have so many holes left to play. Yes, I will occasionally put one in the water and I will miss a few par putts. But in the end, Stone is going to once again stand on that 18th green, look over the course (my life) and realize how truly fortunate I was.
~Stone
PS – Thanks to my friends who had to endure that front nine.