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July 2005

Tuesday, July 05, 2005

Last night I decided to invite some of my closest friends up to the roof to watch the Macy’s Fireworks display, in celebration of Independence Day. What I failed to do, however, is check whether or not you can see the fireworks from the roof. After much anticipation, at 9:20, the fireworks began…at least we began hearing the fireworks. Only the very tip of the show was visible from our line-of-sight. Last nights lesson: don’t over-promise and under-deliver. Especially to a group that takes fireworks very seriously. The next 18 minutes was filled with bangs and booms, followed by bright flashes of what looked like color lightening. Basically everything but the fireworks…

So I sent everyone home with a $2 Metrocard, and $5 cash to buy their own fireworks in Chinatown. And as I sat in bed afterwards I began thinking about how so many things in life are promised, and so many times we’re disappointed. Take medicine for example: even though these pills and shots we take are supposed to help us, how often do we wake up and feel fine? Rarely, if ever – at least in my case. But this doesn’t keep me from having a good day – with or without pain. I’ve just come to accept that it’s not always what we hope it will be. And the same held true for last night. So I screwed up Royally and had half a dozen friends come to listen to fireworks instead of see them. Big deal. Could have been worse, right? A little disappointment never hurt – especially when it was for the sake of teaching someone that sometimes half a cup of water is all there is to fill a glass. But at least it’s filtered water, so who cares if the glass is half empty or half full.

Tuesday, July 19, 2005

It’s golf season and I’m getting back into the swing of things. Even if I don’t play as well as the next twenty-something-year old, I sure can pretend I do! I look around me and I meet men (and women) who are 70, 80, 90 years old and playing golf. So a few months ago I made it my summer goal to get out and start swinging the club around – even if it’s just to play for fun and not competitively. And the results have been phenomenal.

I’ve been really excited to get out on the golf course and putt around because even though I’m not going to break any long distance records, or best score records, or any other records, I’m still out there walking around and enjoying myself. That’s what matters the most. And I think back to all the years I ‘benched’ myself because I was too mad I couldn’t play all 18 holes, and I get upset that I was so competitive. Taking a step back to relax, enjoy myself and just have fun is really what golf – and life? – is all about.

If only my approach to school was as laid back to my new approach to golf…