Good Vibrations

                          Good Vibrations

         We currently  live in a golf community in SW Florida. As such, most of our neighbors are somewhat proficient in knocking a small white ball around, over a velvet green expanse of grass, for several days of the week.

         Proficient or not, there are some days, when you can barely hit the ball, cursing the gods of golf and wondering why you didn’t stick with Tennis, Bocce or bowling.  At other times, you can knock the cover off the white dimpled spheroid with abandon. No one has any real idea of “why you can and why you can’t play” on different days.

        In analyzing our scores over a number of days in the last few months, we have come to some revealing conclusions. Number one is that we all are particularly sensitive beings, who respond well to “Good Vibrations,” emanated by those around us. What does that mean, you might ask?

        Well, we noticed that when we were playing with people whom we both like and admire, our scores went down. We were able to hit the ball with abandon. Our muscles were looser and we played better. And we had much more fun as well.

        Conversely, when we were playing with strangers or someone we didn’t particularly  care for, our upper body muscles tightened up and we couldn’t play for squat, shanking the ball and missing easy putts. What is this all about, we wondered?

         It seems to be that in playing with people whom you like and admire, you are able to loosen up your muscular networks, because you don’t feel any particular pressure to succeed or score so well. The body’s muscular framework relaxes and you are able to play the game much better. You also find that you laugh more and don’t take the game quite so seriously.

        Conversely, when you play the game with certain other people, whom you don’t know or particularly care for, the body’s muscles tighten up. You just know that they are hoping that on the tee box, when you swing your club, you tear your shoulder’s rotator cuff. And in stumbling back to your cart, you will fall and fracture an ankle. No wonder you don’t play well. The negative vibrations around you lie like a ponderous cloud of doom on your shoulders.

       In short, it seems to be a much better choice to play golf, or any other sport or endeavor, with people whom you like and admire. You will enjoy yourselves much more and play much better as a result. You will also laugh a lot more.

        There are indeed people who seek out the use of wool toilet paper and feel comfortable playing anything under duress. The competitive spirit seems to make them perform at a higher level. They are much more tense, than the rest of us, and rarely enjoy the game, even if they play well.

         In that we are both in our seventies, and have no hope of being called up to the tour, we hope that all of these people play with and torture each other, so that the rest of us can have a few laughs and enjoy the day.

         Life is a privilege, afforded to us by reasons we don’t fully understand. We should laugh and enjoy the company of those we share the round with  and appreciate the ability to do so while many others can’t.

        Swing with fun and ease mes amie. Carpe Diem.

                                             -30-

                                       (577 words)

                                  Joseph Xavier Martin