I admit I’ve been playing in uncharted territory for the last few years. Having made a decision, an agreement with myself to say “yes” to life, it’s amazing to watch what has come towards me. So now I find myself co-creating a book about golf, and frankly, I’ve never played the game. Not only have I never played, but golf has been so far off my radar that I admit it is like trying to speak a foreign language without knowing a word.
Maybe all the serious golfers out there are rolling their eyes at this almost sacrilegious confession. But I’m here to tell you that it’s working. I’m writing a book about golf and I have never played the game. Of golf that is. I know nothing, yet somehow I know everything.
One Memorable Golf Experience
One memorable experience I had on a golf course was back in my music business days. We were playing at a chic country club who offered us unlimited access to their pristine 18-hole golf course, which meandered lazily through lush forests. The second hole, somewhere on the fairway, a baby bear cub ran out of the woods and plopped itself down in front of me and stared me directly in the eyes. Baby bear cub won this round, and we ran for the clubhouse as he ran back into the woods to find his momma. That’s it. My sole experience with the game.
Seems everyone I know, has a story, a passion or some history with golf. In the early sixties when my dad was still alive, he played golf and was an avid Arnold Palmer fan. This I remember, but anything else about golf didn’t take hold.
Writing What You Don’t Know
So here I am, writing this book, with a man who doesn’t write but does play serious golf. Very serious golf. Through him and his experiences, I am finding my way around the course. Although all sport is a metaphor for life, it seems golf is the most profound of all. The only sport that pits you against the most daunting of opponents—yourself. It is you, alone with yourself and the elements. The only game that can never be won. But golfers keep trying and in doing this, they are offered the opportunity to get to know themselves just a little bit better with each round they play.
I’d made a choice early on, not to read, consciously study or research anything at all to do with golf. Whatever comes at me through synchronicity, or coincidence or serendipitous events, will be all I need. And it’s unfolding just as Albert Einstein discovered: “Coincidence is God’s way of remaining anonymous.”
Trusting Your Intuition
As an artist, a writer and creator, I like to follow my intuition, my instinct. In the words of a great inspiration to me, Steven Pressfield from his book Do The Work, I “trust the soup.” I committed to letting go of control and working from a place of trust in the divine source, a faith in the unknown, the unseen. To describe what is happening as magical and mysterious would be an understatement. It’s truly amazing how not knowing what I don’t know about golf, has become an absolute positive.
Many questions have surfaced. Maybe some don’t have answers. How is it that six-year-old Reagan Kennedy can shoot a hole-in-one and not even know how incredible a feat this is. Is it luck? Is it talent? She’s only been playing since she was 2. Or is it her destiny? Maybe it’s all of those things and more.
And then you have then 42-year-old Darren Clark, Northern Ireland’s everyman golfer, who emerged from his own human imperfections and personal tragedy to triumph at the 2011 British Open. The hero’s journey. After 20 tries, he found his glory and lived his greatness. He was definitely the player that the onlookers were pulling for.
So, was this his persistence, coupled with talent? Or was it his destiny? I’d like to offer the possibility that this is a part of the grand mystery, the unexplainable part of why some succeed against seemingly impossible odds and others buckle and never find the way to their own greatness. In all facets of life.
Powerful Life Lessons
For me, this is one of the powerful life lessons of golf. You are never too young or too old to find your greatness. It is simply about stepping in with a willingness to play the game, knowing that it is a game that can’t be won. Yes, it is about talent, practice, commitment, patience and luck, but most of all I believe it is about some unknown, which I like to call an unseen magical force. Admittedly, it’s about different things for different people.
I remember how the golf hero in The Legend of Baggar Vance, Rannulph Junuh, had given up because he had “lost his swing”. His muse, in the form of Baggar Vance, says it most eloquently. “…inside each and every one of us is one true authentic swing. Somethin’ we was born with. Somethin’ that can’t be taught to ya or learned. Somethin’ that got to be remembered”.
Finding Our Authentic Swing
Thank you Baggar Vance and Steven Pressfield, Reagan Kennedy and Darren Clarke. All of us have an authentic swing, our “soul’s calling” as I see it. Without recognition of it, sometimes we lose our way. Thanks to my muses both here on earth and those who are orchestrating and conspiring with me on all my projects, from places unseen and unknown.
I believe I have remembered my authentic swing. I’ve always known it, as I found it a long time ago, but did not always honour it and let it guide me. Part of it is simply to write and share ideas. Hopefully, some days provoke and inspire too. I can tell you that once you remember it, life flows. There is some magical unknown, keeping me in awe, filling me with passion and the desire to keep doing my work.
Showing Up For Life and Playing Our Game
One more thought about golf, this time in the words of Baggar Vance. “I’m talkin’ about a game…a game that can’t be won, only played.”
And that is the ultimate life lesson, isn’t it? It isn’t about winning, it’s about showing up and playing and doing what you are here to do. You aren’t really in the game if you don’t show up and play. Being the best you can be and continuing to swing your authentic swing. Everything else is like the elusive hole-in-one. In the wise words of Baggar Vance, “Now play the game… Your game… The one that only you was meant to play… The one that was given to you when you come into this world… You ready?”
Are you ready? My sincere hope is that all of you somehow, someday remember your unique authentic swing. Where has your authentic swing taken you in golf or in life?
postscript 2017: The process of writing what I don’t know, continues to intrigue me. There have been several hiatus’ from working on the golf book, however, we have a new vision on how to craft a parallel story around the 19 chapters already created. Stay tuned!
Hi Beverley, Your focus on the unseen magical force in golf, exploring the beauty of life and connecting with a game of golf that can’t be won, only played. It is just an awesome realization! Once I was struggling with the crisis of life then also found the same about life. Thank you.
Thanks for your personal insights on how golf offered you new insights about life, Sumon! It looks like you are a devoted golfer who credits it with bringing you beauty and important realizations. I appreciate you reading and commenting!
Win, lose or draw, we are in the game. The main thing is you just need to show up in your life everyday. This is the best thing though, you can always start fresh.
Very true, Lorii! We do have the opportunity to show up each day and start anew. We are constantly creating and recreating our lives and ourselves.
Being authentic to yourself is really difficult these days. I feel like there are so many things coming at us constantly, that the mixed messages we consume sometimes drown out the voice coming from within. It’s good to get back in touch with that with some one on one time. For me, that’s not golf, but other things I enjoy.
I completely agree with you, Jennifer! We are literally being bombarded with messages and information and often the external noise, drowns out the quieter inner voice. There are many ways to reconnect with our inner world and that I believe, is why we see yoga and mediation being so popular in today’s culture. Golf isn’t for me either, but it fascinates me to learn more from the people who do see it as theirs.
Wow… such a story and inspiration as always Bev.. and I, like you… am not a golfer, never aspired to be one.. except maybe as beer cart girl. LOL But just like you said.. it’s all about the journey within the game.. and how we play, not that we won but that we played.. or that’s what I got out of it. LOL
Happy you enjoyed this post, Kristen. I realize we don’t have to play golf to ‘get’ the metaphor about finding our ‘authentic swing’ and then playing the game (of life) full out! It is about how we play the game for sure, and it makes it all the more interesting when we are competing with ourself.
Great inspiring article today. I’m still wondering what my authentic swing is… I think it is one thing and then I’m not sure. I know I’ll get there. I can’t wait to read the book when it’s finished!
Thanks so much Gilly! I appreciate you reading this post and your thoughts on your own exploration and search for your authentic swing! I feel the same, as although I know the foundation of it, I also seem to be looking for the definitive way to express it to the world. I hope the book becomes a reality, as I know many people are anticipating reading it! I’ll keep you posted…
Wow, Beverley. There are so many magical moments in this post. You definitely “trust the soup”… as do I. Life definitely isn’t about winning… it’s about the journey. The image you included here about Coincidence is God’s way of staying anonymous is PRICELESS. I am a firm believer in listening to our intuition and making decisions based on #infoition… both information, where appropriate, and our internal guidance system.
So happy you pointed out the ‘trust the soup’ quote in this post, Tandy! I really feel that you do that as well. Like you, I also believe in listening to our intuition and making choices based on that. Love your Infoition word. Perfect! It really is about a melding of information from the outside and also our intuition which comes from the inside. A true blending of inner and outer.
In this time of intense competition, I especially loved “Although all sport is a metaphor for life, it seems golf is the most profound of all. The only sport that pits you against the most daunting of opponents—yourself.” Interesting how someone outside of something can see a perspective that is new! Great story.
Thanks so much Candess! I am happy this post resonated with you and you enjoyed the quote you pointed out. Golf, like life, is one that pits you against yourself. If we were honest with ourselves about this, it might make competition less of a driving force. Glad to hear you enjoyed the story in this piece!
This is such an amazing post, Beverley. The whole thing is fascinating – the writing what you don’t know, which has been working so well and allowing in those ‘coincidences, and the game itself, which is so full of lessons and metaphors. I do love that Baggar Vance quote about “a game that can’t be won, only played.” That one speaks to me about being in the moment, and not focussing on the end result – a lesson for us all!
Thanks so much for your perspective on this post, Reba! I love hearing how you found the idea of writing what you don’t know, fascinating. Especially as so often we hear to ‘write what you know’ or at least to start from that vantage point. I love everything about the lessons from Baggar Vance too and so many of the quotes really resonate with me. The quote you pointed out certainly does speak to being in the moment and trusting we are exactly where we need to be. I appreciate your input!
Beverley.
There is a correlation with Golf and how hard you take the swing or what you want to work towards. I always get a great message from your work that is intuitive and special.
Thanks ,
Lori English
Thanks so much Lori! I appreciate that you see the way my message in all my pieces incorporates the intuitive parts of who we are!
There are so many good points in this article, Beverley. I especially love when you remember your authentic swing, “life flows”. I have also found this to be true. We all experiment and try on different hats from time to time but when we remember our authentic swing, something magical happens. Hubby is an avid golfer and I’ve watched how the game confounds him – one day he plays like a champ, another day like he’s never done it before. Some of the guys he plays with are in their 80s, still enjoying the ups and downs and the eternal search for finding their own greatness.
It’s amazing to read all the comments and see how playing golf, has so many universal experiences, Tami. Your husband’s experience is what I hear all the time. No matter how good you are one day, you are almost like a novice the next time you go out to play. That is what fascinates me about the game. It truly is a like a new game each time you go out to play. And I love the authentic swing as a metaphor for our own unique path in life too. We do keep trying on new things, until we are truly playing our game, our way, as who we are.
Baggar Vance is right – it can’t be won. Never won. No matter what you do, it’s not good enough, because it’s either leading to a better move or crummy. I got a new set of clubs for Mother’s Day…I can’t even win with a new set of clubs because my husband expects me to hit an imaginary number of games to qualify the purchase. Haha, my first hit that went flying yards past where I normally hit qualified it for me. It can be good, It’s often bad if it wasn’t bad…then the good wouldn’t be good.
My granddaughter gave my husband a coupon for father’s day – she’ll play 9 holes with him without complaining once 🙂
Here’s my serendipitous tip – golf allows you to see parts of the countryside and geography that you would never have the honor to encounter otherwise. I’ve golfed with monkeys in Barbados, alligators in Florida and Moose in Colorado. Areas that seem like a metropolis are suddenly green gardens on the golf course.
Love, love, love all your insights about golf based on your own experiences, Cathy! Wow! You really epitomize what I understand about playing the game…regardless of how long you’ve been playing, it is still a game you cannot win. Sounds like you are a golf family and it’s great that your granddaughter is as enthusiastic as your husband and you are.
I love how you describe how you’ve combined travelling with playing golf and how each landscape, each terrain, offers you a new and different view of the place. Life definitely looks different, regardless of where you are, when walking a golf course. I’ve walked them with my writing partner, however, still never had the urge to play! Enjoy your new golf clubs and sounds like you have already earned them from your perspective! Enjoy!
My father is an avid, excellent golfer, but I’ve never felt a connection with the sport. When he took me to hit balls, I complained nearly the whole time and left with horrible blisters on my hands. That was probably one of the few times my dad wished he’d had a son! Haha I find myself very moved by your post. The analogy is spot on, especially since I’ve spent so much time working on myself and trying to find my voice. My biggest opponent is myself, I’ve known this for a while. Wonderful, thought-provoking story!
My dad loved golf as well, Meghan and for me, I really feel like an outsider looking in and not really wanting to participate in the sport. I love your story of going with him and then complaining you want to go home. I appreciate hearing that you loved the analogy in this post, as I think ultimately that is what we are all doing. Trying to find our own unique authentic swing and then living it. I hear you about our biggest opponent being ourselves! I am guilty of that myself. Thanks again for your support for this story!
I so loved Baggar Vance, Beverley! I’d forgotten about it–thank you for the reminder. Love, love the authentic swing! That’s what brings richness to our lives, no? Did you ever finish the golf book?
Thanks so much Susan! I also loved Baggar Vance and knowing more about the process Pressfield used and the lessons he offered in the book, makes it more meaningful to me now too. This reminder to find our authentic swing seems to resonate with all of us in our own way. As far as the golf book, it is in hiatus still. Sigh. I do hope to get back to it and finish some day.
This is incredible! I’ve written plays and started a bunch of novels, always starting with what I know. But you have some great points here. Also, golf is something that has always been in my life. My brother and dad play/played, I’ve played, my father in law plays – all avidly, well except me. However, I love the game. And I love the quotes you chose from Bagger Vance. It is a game against ourselves, and a little bit mother nature.
Thanks Lori Ann! Glad you enjoyed the read and sounds like you have some familiarity with golf both for yourself, and your family. Writing what I don’t know, has been very interesting, as I hear you can imagine. Love all the wisdom in Bagger Vance and am a big fan of Steven Pressfield and his books, especially The War of Art. Yes, golf pits the player against himself and nature becomes the outside influence that truly gives him a close up view of how he reacts…or doesn’t’ react to things outside himself.
Beverley, great post about life! I have read Pressfield’s ‘Do The Work’ and I love it too! We are all here to do what only we can do, be ourselves and not compete with anyone else. I love reading about sports and the game of life analogies! Thank you for your wonderful perspective!
Thanks so much Vanessa! Appreciate you getting the life and golf analogy and seeing that being who we are, swinging our authentic swing, is what we all are here to do. I also love the sports analogy and see how it perfectly applies to life and golf. As far a Steven Pressfield, he is probably one of my favourite authors and I always suggest everyone read his book “The War of Art”. He is brilliant! Thanks for sharing as well.
This is an excellent article Beverley! I truly enjoyed the read. There were two parts that really struck a cord with me. “The only sport that pits you against the most daunting of opponents—yourself. It is you, alone with yourself and the elements.” I ceel like golf that entrepreneurship is just like this as well. I also was touched by the statement of souls calling I feel that is a place that we all need to get to. We need to get into our callings and give the world our God given greatness.
Thanks so much for your thumbs up on this piece, David! And I love the two pieces that stood out for you the most. Yes, in life and in golf, we truly are pitted against our most daunting of opponents. Ourselves. Yes, I imagine entrepreneurship is like this as well. We feel we are competing with everyone out there, and yet the real challenge comes from within. And I do agree that our authentic swing is a soul’s calling, it is something we are here to do, something that fuels our soul. Once we find it and play it, we are offering our gifts to the world and sharing our greatness!
Love the comment “you are never too young or too old to find your greatness.” Brilliant! With the added benefit of being true, too. Good stuff, Beverley. P.S. I think golf is boring, but hey — that’s just me.
Thanks for the thumbs up, Jackie. And I know you also believe that we are never too young or too old to find our greatness. We just need to keep showing up and playing the game! Of life or golf. In many ways they actually mirror each other. I don’t play golf either, however, it becomes fascinating when you hear about it from someone who is so passionate about it that it brings it to a whole new level!
You are so right Beverley! You are never too young or too old to perform in golf. We swing a golf club like a baseball bat. Grrrrr, it’s frustrating. We keep thinking to that one day we’ll get lessons. We did once. BUt having a business (like yourself) doesn’t cater to a consistent schedule. One day we’ll get the swing of it…probably on the mini-golf tour! 😉
In anything we do, Scott, we are swinging the club and hopefully committed to do our best and play full out. In golf and in life. The idea is to keep swinging, to keep going, and to know it really is all about continuing to play the game! 🙂
What an interesting perspective! I have only played miniature golf, as actual golf has always seemed perplexing. Admittedly I’ve never attempted to play. I can definitely see the correlation between life and the game. I love that you have never played and your coauthor doesn’t write. The best gems come from virgin eyes.
Glad you found this piece offered an interesting perspective Niquenya. Exploring the correlation between life and golf has truly been fascinating and I think you are right, the fact that I don’t play and he doesn’t write, is making for quite an interesting collaboration. What is showing up feels very magical and not something we could have planned, had we tried.
So interesting that you are writing a book about golf, did I read that right? I am like you though, have no interest in it and never figure I would… I love softball and more of a softball swing. Anyways, I get the correlation though.. being authentic, we must dive deep to find the true us so we CAN be authentic!
You definitely did read that right, Kristen. A book less about the technical side of playing golf, and more about the way golf and life mirror each other and how this one many’s experiences reflect in his life and in all our lives. I am not really a sports kind of gal, although I know playing baseball and softball is often a fun team experience. And yes, the analogy is to find our own authentic swing and play full out! In everything we do in life.
This is another opportunity to read one of your unique articles as posted. Posting one of the masterpieces contributes to the life of an individual be it for personal or business aspects. As usual, my thanks to you for constantly engaging in any of the activities of Social Selling Circle.
Many thanks for your vote of confidence on my writing and what I share, Lorii. I appreciate that you see the essence and value of my writings.
To “swing the authentic swing.” I love that phrase.
To figure out the authentic swing would be to know who I am. If I were to play golf, I’d “play” to play not to win because I know I am not great at it. In life, each of us has a calling, once we figure that out (thankfully I have), we “swing the authentic swing” when we do what we are called to do.
You sound like you fully get and are living your “authentic swing” Ruby! Congrats for being so clear about it and living it to the max. For all of us, it is a journey of discovery and it is truly about playing full out, must to play the game. Very much appreciate your thoughts and your own reflections on swinging our authentic swing.
I used to golf and while I don’t golf any more, I love your golfing metaphors for life. A very enjoyable read, Beverley 🙂
I’ve still never golfed, Sherri, although I find everything about my friend’s experience of it fascinating. Glad you enjoyed the post and the golf and life metaphors too! 🙂
Hey Beverley,
Fantastic post this week! Enjoyed reading about your co-writing a book on golf and utilizing it for this post. I have played golf a few times, find it really boring lol but I can totally understand it is not about winning, it is all in how you play the game , in golf and in life…..so thinking about my authentic swing in my life is something that I know I have always tried to figure out lol
I realize now that I am 52, I know what they may be for me……….being real, and honest and true to what is important to me now at this point 🙂 Because in the end it is all about YOU 🙂
Thanks for sharing my friend 🙂
Sounds like you have a very strong inner sense Joan and your values are ones that I also believe truly define us as being authentic. It does take some time for all of us to discover and uncover are authentic swing, and once we do, as you are finding, it really feels amazing. Glad you enjoyed this post and happy the golf and life analogy spoke to you too. Although I haven’t played golf, it is interesting to hear from people who have played and LOVE it and then like you, those who play and don’t. That’s what makes life so interesting. We all are unique and different. And yes, it is all about being the biggest and best YOU, you can be and then sharing that out into the world. Many thanks for your amazing support! 🙂
I never really thought about the fact that you never really win at golf or life. It really is about showing up and playing the best damn game you possibly can every single day! Love this article…thanks for sharing.
Glad to hear this piece offered some food for thought, Beth. Both golf and life are about showing up and playing full out…the best game you can play each time. Appreciate your support and love on this one!
Beverley, Powerful information! I need to let go and follow my intuition more. I enjoy golf and like how you integrated life lessons with the game.
Thanks Christi! I think for all of us, when we trust our intuition more, life is much easier. Glad you found this post powerful as well. And if you play golf, you probably can relate to the golf and life analogy.
I am still in pursuit of finding my “authentic swing.” I am working toward being a better me each day. Even when I make a bad decision, mistake or experience rejection..I ask “what lesson does GOD want me to learn from this?” So I take these lessons on my journey to finding my authentic swing. I am close but still lots of work to do.
Thanks for sharing!
Thanks so much Sharise for sharing a bit of your own journey on the road to finding your authentic self. Yes, it does take lots of trail and exploration, yet as we get closer, it feels so very good. And I also believe there is always a lesson in even the most unsuccessful or unpleasant of events we experience. We all are getting closer as long as we are on the playing field!
Beverley, even when I have a great day, I always feel better when I read something of yours. 🙂 The coach in me wants to argue with you about the idea that “it’s not a competition,” because it is extremely hard for me not so see everything as just that (hey, when you are a hammer,…), but I agree that the best part is showing up to play, for that is where we truly find ourselves and we truly figure out what we enjoy the most.
Again, thank you for sharing your insight. The world is better because of you. 🙂
So happy my writing brings some “feeling” good to yours days, Liz. I won’t argue with the coach in you, as I do believe that golf is a very insular game that actually continues to pit the golfer against himself, even when it appears they are playing against someone else. The best part is indeed showing up to play. We find out so much about ourselves in the process and I do believe that how we are on the golf course, is how we are in life. Thanks again for your support and positivity! It means a lot to me. 🙂
Enjoy your writing style, Beverley! Very easy to understand the flow of your writing! I have always said that I would golf someday. Someday hasn’t arrived as of yet. I could probably write a book about miniature golf. Great blog!
Thanks so much David. I appreciate hearing that my writing is easy and flows for the reader. Golf is definitely one of those games that has an appeal to so many people. The man I am writing with didn’t start playing until he was 40 and even 20+ years later he has a handicap in the 5 or 6 range. It is never too late to start almost anything in life. Love to read your book about miniature golf. I haven’t played that in years! Thanks again.
What a post, Beverley! You show up 150% in everything that you do – taking risks, asking questions, taking time to really assess each situation. What a gift you have, and what a gift you share with all of us through your writing. Love that you are back at this project.
Thanks so much for your very kind words, Deb! I would like to believe I am all in all the time, as I spent a lot of years where I might have played life from the sidelines or the stands. Appreciate your acknowledgement on my gift and I am happy the project is back on as well. One never knows where these journeys take us!
I think that it is awesome that you are writing the book but have never played the game. Enjoyed your analogy of golf to life. I believe I am finding my authentic swing and it feels so much more natural. 🙂
Thanks so much Cassandra. Writing what you don’t know is definitely an interesting experience. Surprisingly uplifting and affirming too. Happy to hear you are finding your own authentic swing and know how much more natural for you that feels. Keep swinging you swing. 🙂
I’m not a golfer but I love the gist of the article. We all need to find our authentic swing! I’m sure there are similar ways to look at it in other sports or interests. My husband golfs and does have some great stories.
Agree Beth, in all sports we are offered the opportunity to learn something about ourselves. Golf just happens to be the most insular of all games and often offers the biggest lessons for us to learn. I can only imagine some of the stories you’ve heard of your husband’s adventures on the golf course.
Beverley, I really enjoy the layout of your site. It seems you have been doing this for some time and really have this down. You are a great writer as well. Really enjoyed this post. One question – where do you get your photos?
Appreciate the compliment on my site, LeAnn Shirley. It was truly a labour of love and a lot of people contributed to everything you see here now. I also thank you for the compliment on my writing, as it means a lot to know people enjoy my writing style and glad you enjoyed the post as well! A lot of my photos come from Pixabay, it is a creative commons site and the one I find both easy to use and filled with wonderful choices.
Being true to one’s core/authentic self seems to be a theme these days. I’ve been focusing on it, and writing and scoping about it. Life is so much easier when you’re being your true self.
Indeed Carol. This is a very big topic of conversation these days, as if we don’t live our authentic core self, who are we actually living. And yes, life is so much easier if we live our truth and share that with others. Thanks for doing the work as well, as it is something we all would be wise to take on in life.
You continue to inspire me, Beverley. I’m a fan of taking new swings at life, too…changing up the
stance..finding a new angle…adjusting the posture at the sandtrap. Sometimes, I even get it right.
Love your leap of faith into writing about something brand new for you. I’ll be looking for the new
release!
You sound like seasoned golfer, Sharon. Curious if that means you play. Golf that is. I know you play all in in your life. And thanks for the vote of confidence on my leap of faith and writing what I don’t know. It is an interesting experience and I’ll make sure to keep you posted on how it all ultimately unfolds. Appreciate your support and your voice in the conversation!
I’m not a golfer either, Beverley, but I know many folks who are AVID FANS! Like any sport or hobby, I am sure golf teaches you lessons — about the game, about others, about yourself. We just need to be open to learning!
Everything you said is very true Cathy. In all areas of life, it is about staying open and having a willingness to learn the lessons being presented to you. As far as golf, it is certainly a metaphor for life and how people are on the golf course, is how they are in their lives. A great place to “get to know” the real someone and who they are. Appreciate you sharing!
Wow, great blog! I liked you said “Being the best you can be and continuing to swing your authentic swing.” That’s totally a life lesson. I really enjoyed reading this blog. Thanks Beverley:)
Thanks so much Kaz! Glad you found something in this post that aligns with you and your own beliefs in life. And yes, being the best we can be and swinging our authentic swing, is definitely a great life lesson. Appreciate you reading this post and happy you enjoyed it too!
Great post Beverley. I really like your perspective on life. Very inspiring!
I can’t imagine writing a book I know nothing about or don’t have an interest in. I’ve toyed with a number of ideas over the years but have never done anything. Maybe that’s because I’m one of those people who dream of writing a book, but in truth just want to have written a book.
Thanks for a great read. I’m off to look for my authentic swing. Has anyone seen it?
Thanks so much Clive for your thumbs up on this piece! Happy you found my perspective inspiring. Maybe your authentic swing is actually what the book you are meant to write is about. Just a thought. It has been quite an interesting process for sure and honestly it is so rewarding and enriching that I am amazed at the ease with which the stories flow. Having a written book, is certainly something a very large percent of the population says they want, yet the actually doing of the writing seems to stop some people. I found the writing the easiest part, it was the editing and the publishing process that was time consuming and challenging for me. Hope you find your authentic swing and look forward to hearing if it leads you to some new ideas for your future book and your life!
What an endearing and may I add brave perspective on journeying through life. Letting go and letting it all flow.
I really enjoyed your post Beverley which teaches much about feeling the fear but doing it anyway! Throwing caution to the wind, and realizing it’s not about the destination but about experiencing the enjoyment of it all in every beautiful moment.
It takes a courage to step out of your comfort zone and stretch to your furthest reach. I love how you have embraced this project to write about golf even though you have never experienced it! That is pretty brave but in essence all you’re doing is applying your passion and openness to whatever comes along. You trust your higher power to perfect the ever-changing conditions and circumstances in your life. Intuition is your guide and somehow you know you will be supported along the way.
I do agree with Baggar Vance ‘inside each and every one of us is one true authentic swing. Somethin’ we was born with. Somethin’ that can’t be taught to ya or learned. Somethin’ that got to be remembered”.
That’s why it is essential for each one of us to embark on that special journey and tap in to the great treasure chest within. That inner strength so we can play our best game because it don’t mean a thing, if you aint got that swing! ☺
A lovely read Beverley, thanks for a brilliant post once again.
Thank you Michelle for your very thoughtful and reflective comments on this post. I also love the idea of having an authentic swing that all we have to do is “remember”, as for me, that speaks to the spiritual journey we are all on. It is within us and yet so many outer distractions often lead us off track.
As far as my golf project and “writing what I don’t know”, it is quite an exhilarating way to trust the muse and trust that everything we need to know is already available to us. It is simply a matter of opening to it and letting it flow through us. Very happy to hear that you truly got that I am in a deep place of getting out of my way and allowing the grander and bigger purpose to emerge. It has been quite a leap of faith, however, the results are truly uplifting and life affirming. I always appreciate your very deep and well thought out comments! You are very appreciated! 🙂
I love how this was written 4 years ago and it’s still applies today. My biggest takeaway from this is “You are never too young or too old to find your greatness. It is simply about stepping in with a willingness to play the game, knowing that it is a game that can’t be won. ” I didn’t figure out what my purpose was until I turned 49.
Thanks again Beverley for a very inspiring post!
Thanks so much for seeing how some things are timeless, Gisele and I feel the same way about the lessons we can learn from the golf and life analogy. It’s amazing to hear that although it took you until 49 to find your authentic swing, that is perfectly okay. Each of us finds it, or remembers it, at different points in our life, and I hear that has been very inspirational for you to arrive at this purposed-filled place. I appreciate your support and so glad you found this post inspiring! Love that quote as well…thanks for noticing it!
In rereading your blog, I am again reminded that ‘life’ is not a dress rehearsal’. So important to do the best you can each day, for yourself. Not to outclass or beat someone else but to be the most fulfilled available to you. This analogy of golf & life is such a good one.
Thanks fro rereading this one Roslyn. And yes, the analogy of golf and life is indeed a good one. It really speaks volumes to people as of all the sports, golf is the most closely related to golf. People tell me you can learn how someone is in their life, by playing a game of golf with them. Interesting, as I don’t play golf, yet am seeing how true this is. And yes, life is about playing full out and making the most of every opportunity. It is interesting how life flows as well, once we find our own unique authentic swing. Appreciate your reflections here.
Love the comparison of a game of golf to life. It’s true, we have to show up to play or go home. And everyone has their own “swing” and it’s never too late to find that swing and go with it. Have to put your all into it to have a good game.
Thanks Michael and happy to hear you enjoyed the comparison between golf and life. It truly is a game that reflects who and how we are in our lives as well. And yes, we all have our own unique authentic swing and once we find it or remember it, live just flows. And it is never too late! Life and golf are about being on the playing field and playing full out to play a good game as you said!
Great post Beverley, really like the analogy between the game of golf and life in general. I never really thought of golf as a game that cannot be won (I am not a golfer), but that is actually so true. I think that if you treat life as you would a golf game, then you will always be hitting your best round. Cheers, Ian
That is the fascinating part of it all Ian. When we get on the playing field of our lives and then play full out, we can only continue to grow and expand. Life is about moving forward into new and unchartered territory. The metaphor of golf and life is quite powerful and happy to hear that you took something away from this piece, especially in relationship to it being a game you play against yourself and that you can really never win. Appreciate hearing your takeaways and your comments!
It wasn’t until the end that I realized you wrote this original post in 2011. I’ve been reading your blogs the past year or so & your writing, language skills, depth of humanity is so inspiring, consistent and thought-provoking. This reminds me of the ‘epitaph’ I want on my tombstone; “she was all used up”. Years ago I came across a concept that life is but a game. Took me some time to fully understand it, but I got on board and play at living life.
Love your epitaph, Roslyn and in my experience you are definitely going all out and playing life to the max. Kudos on that! It really doesn’t matter when we start, as life continues to offer us opportunities to grow and expand. I so appreciate your comments, as it makes me feel that what I do has a value to those who take the time to read and digest my writings. Your comment that you see my depth of humanity means a lot to me and of course as my intention is to thought-provoke, I am always delighted when that is what others get from my pieces. I so value you and acknowledge you for thoroughly engaging in everything you do.
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Thanks for stopping by and commenting on this post. Yes you can follow me on twitter @goldenbeverley. Appreciate you reading and supporting me.
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Thanks for your thumbs up for the site. I appreciate you stopping by and reading here.