I am a dedicated golf-show watcher, having grown up in the world of golf and thinking watching it on a Sunday afternoon with my folks was normal.
I still thoroughly enjoy the game, seeing the individual excellence so many display against the odds I never imagined in my youth.
For those who aren’t familiar with the terms, a bunker (used to be known as a sand trap) is an area filled with sand that is “normally” set just a foot or two lower than the surface of the surrounding green grass areas known as the fairway.
But in some cases, normal is totally thrown out the window!
Now, what does that have to do with anyone who doesn’t actually play golf?
I was reminded of the ways that the golfers have to address the added height of a few special bunkers in courses worldwide, especially the one called the PGA West Stadium in La Quinta CA. It’s where the American Express PGA tournament was played a week or so ago, and I was reminded of how tough golf – and life – can be!
When we have a problem or an issue, we could choose to see it as an easy-enough challenge. Pretty flat bunker, so very little trouble for a pro.
And by seeing our problem this way, we can likely solve it without too much drama … right?
Of course, there are often times when either the problem is really bigger or our mind thinks it is. And what do we need to do then?
Calm down and assess.
Do we need to be stronger or louder, and if so, to what extent?
We need to be careful not to overshoot the bunker’s edge or overload our emotional capacity for something that doesn’t deserve it.
But then … there can be serious trouble, the kind where we call out the troops. We need to summon an amazing amount of strength and wisdom, all while facing
a really BIG issue.
Because sometimes the issue really is HUGE, bigger / higher than 99% of what goes on in our life.
But let’s not make mountains out of molehills, right?
Yes, facing this kind of challenge is worrisome, but it’s also seriously unique; there are only 8 other bunkers worldwide that deserve the name of The Scariest Bunkers in Golf according to articles I’ve read.
So, we as humans can make choices, and we should carefully consider whether what we think we’re seeing is real, and if not, decide how to play our game to win.
How do you deal with issues that have the power to overwhelm you but don’t deserve it?
What tips would you share with all of us, so we don’t have to climb mountains of our own making?
Good Morning Susan! Glad your computers problems worked out ok. There are days when I think going back to a #2 pencil and a Big Chief tablet might be better than all our technology. But then again, our technology has allowed the world to connect and communicate. Have a great day and a great rest of your week!!
And you’re SO right about the #2 pencil and all, David — laughing I am! Grateful to Dennis for getting me a new password … and I think the issue is Edge, which I don’t want but seem stuck with. Many of my passwords did not transfer from my Chrome (I seem to have both), so I’ve had “fun” trying to get it all straightened out.
Hope you’re having a great day/week yourself, David!
Thanks so much, David!
I’ve had some trouble with my computer, so I had to get things straightened out before I could respond. And I worked very hard to not make a huge deal out of it … I almost succeeded.
Oh wow. This one hit home Susan. In my younger years, I was SO GOOD at turning molehills into mountains. As I have aged, I found that when confronted with a situation or unknown situation, it helps if I just take a few deep breaths to calm down. From there, I can see the light at the end of the tunnel and that there is, in fact, a path forward.