I find it fascinating that a Lawyer and an amateur golfer born in 1902 had such a simple yet profound and astute view of life. When I first found recovery, the notion of "Acceptance" was drilled into my head. Basically acceptance was realizing that one MUST "play the ball where it lies". I had to accept I was an alcoholic/addict before I could ever take any realistic steps toward recovery. I had to "OWN" my disease...take responsibility for it.
This philosophic notion of playing the ball where it is...not where you WISH it was, is a powerful attitude and most useful when working through life's most difficult and unexpected times. It amazes me how unprepared for life's ups/downs many people are. They live life in a warm & fuzzy cocoon...until trouble visits then they feel sorry for themselves and end up virtually helpless.
To me this notion of "acceptance" not only saved my life but is a positive and helpful daily point of view. No sense trying to kid ourselves...Life IS what it IS, no matter how much we wish it was something different.
This reminds me of a documentary about Billie Jean King I saw a few years back, where she basically presented her philosophy of tennis: every time that ball comes at you, you have to make a big decision. And it can come at you from any single angle, the full 360 degrees. I love people who are passionate about what they do, because they give added value to it. Golf and tennis could be metaphors for life, if one is willing to spend a brainwave.
ReplyDeleteI call being passionate about what you do in life Living HARD..and that will always be my choice as long as I have breath to keep pushing on!
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