Sunday, March 11, 2012

Dreams

In golf there are many, many tournaments throughout the year. It seems that every other week someone wins who I have never even heard of before, with the exception of the majors. The majors are the four most important tournaments and have the deepest fields. For some reason, it seems that the better players outperform the others even more consistently in majors than in the regular events. Geoff Ogilvy even made the observation once  that majors are almost easier to win because very few players actually show up thinking that they can pull it off. 
Well, to all those that are on the planet, I introduce to you the majors of life: religion, family, career, and happiness. We see it on t.v., we hope for it in our hearts, but how many of us really show up to the most important things believing that we can succeed? Are we excited to pursue the deepest desires of our hearts? Are we ready to fall on our faces a few times? I think I am, but I have a long face, a four thousand calorie diet, and a very close relationship with failure. So I understand that I might not fall under the bell curve in a lot of ways, but I think we should all get on this train and see where we end up and what we run over on the way. 
In fact, let's just take some leaps of faith and jump for the things we value as most important. Much like track, most of us will find that we can't jump, run, or throw nearly as well as we visualize it before we actually do it. We will try to achieve lofty goals, lift millions of lives, and build a perfect home. We will try to love, care for, and treat with respect all people. We will spend countless hours pursuing honorable goals. Day after day, week after week, and year after year we will continue working our hearts out. There will come a day that we will look back and see, through the cruel eye of honesty, that we failed many more times than we succeeded. We will feel incompetent and wonder why we didn't do as well as others. We will want to quit and never try again. I promise, that in that day, many of us will embrace our "failure" with a greater and deeper satisfaction than we could have ever imagined when we first pictured success. In the libraries of our lives, the volumes of accomplishments gather dust, but we will never stop visiting the stories and friendships that were made as we tried to achieve. 
So go and catch your dreams. Live with passion. Be awesome.

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Hello world, I have a question

The world is busy, I know, but I never let that get me down. I was persistent, committed, and even stubborn, and in the end I arranged an interview with her. Unfortunately it wasn't a sit-down, but I did get a few minutes of her time on the phone. Enjoy!

Wilson: Thank you so much for taking this time to talk with me, I can't express how excited I am to learn more about you.
World: You are very welcome.
Wilson: So I was hoping we could just jump into some questions, I am quite anxious.
World: That would be just fine.
Wilson: So my first question is about death. It seems that the older people get the more they think about it. Do you find that to be the same with you? Has it been a more pressing matter in recent years than it was when you were younger?
World: You know, I will be honest, it certainly creeps into my mind frequently now, but you can't blame me. People just won't shut up about how I am going to end soon. As for this year, I'm going to have a hard time sleeping until the 21st of December passes peaceably.
Wilson: As you look forward and realize the inevitability of your end, are you also reflective on the long life that you have already lived?
World: Oh sure. I love reflecting on the many choice experiences in my life. I mean, how many planets can say they have had organic matter stomping on their face for thousands of years. Really think about it! Of all the planets in the universe, I am one of the lucky ones that gets to see something really special. Do you know how rewarding it is to have a dinosaur gracefully walking your plains?
Wilson: I can't say that I do.....
World: ......
Wilson: Anyway, moving on. I think it would be fair to say that you have had a front seat to the human story. Throughout the ages you have seen many come and leave. What has been the most enjoyable part of it all?
World: Oh, I have always been a succor for family life. I mean, if I want entertainment or sports I can always go somewhere else. Do you really think that humans are more fun to watch in a race than a shark or a lion?
Wilson: I guess it depends on the lighting and refreshments.
World: That was a rhetorical question.
Wilson: Right.
World: But the family structure has a certain appeal to it.
Wilson: Okay. I can respect that, and now I have just one last question. How old are you really?
World: There is nothing appropriate about a question like that.
Wilson: I am so sorry. But at least tell me how much you weigh.
World: You've got to be kidding me.