Life, golf aren’t always fair

By None on August 9, 2018.

Golf is a metaphor for life.

I have been in and around this great game since 1986, and to this day, it still continues to teach me countless lessons about myself, life, relationships and happiness.

What exactly has the game reminded me of recently?

Enjoying myself each and every day has more to do with the company I choose to keep than it does any success I may or may not have had along the way. Happiness is more likely to occur when I have surrounded myself with inspiring people who challenge me to be a positive influence.

Life is not always fair, and much like everyone else, I too will get bad breaks along the way. At times, I’ve had to work on accepting hurdles placed in front of me. As long as I don’t allow these hurdles to stop me in my tracks, I will always find a way over, under or around them with some persistence.

Loss of perspective leads to irrational thoughts and actions which only put problems on steroids. I may not always create my initial circumstance — see note above about things not always being fair — but my response to it, is always my choice. Bottom line, regardless of the situation, I must remind myself that things could always be worse. Maintaining my perspective is imperative when trying to determine the next right action.

Stay present and take things one moment at a time. All too often big picture thinking is overwhelming and filled with emotions like anxiety, frustration or despair. Golf has taught me to sit back and enjoy the beauty of the moment in front of me before it passes. We don’t need to be manage the day, we just need to manage the moment.

Be willing to stand alone and get things done your way; there is no template to success. What needs to be done is rarely negotiable; however, how one goes about doing it certainly does leave tons of room for creativity. Putting a little bit of “me” in everything I do keeps me excited, interested and inspired to pursue my goals and dreams.

The list of life-lessons golf has instilled in me is endless. At the end of it all, the game has taught me to look for the hidden lesson in everything I do… there is always a greater message buried somewhere beneath the surface.

Has sport taught you any valuable lessons you wish to share? Please consider reaching out and sharing them with me and others.

Trevor Moore is a PGA of Canada professional and a TPI Certified Golf Fitness Instructor with the Titleist Performance Institute. Based in Medicine Hat, he runs his Advantage Golf Academy out of Cottonwood Coulee Golf Course and coaches the Medicine Hat College Rattlers golf teams. For comments or questions, you can contact him via his website trevormoore.ca or on Twitter @trevormooreinc.

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