Like You Mean It

There’s a saying… hindsight is 20/20. The expression comes from the way people describe good vision. A person with normal, good vision has 20/20 sight. Hindsight is an understanding of a past event.  Looking back makes things look clearer.   I don’t know who coined the phrase, but its been around as long as I can remember.

The year 2020 was full of trouble.  If there was ever a year people wished was over, this was it.  If you’re reading this on “posting day”, take a deep breath.  You’re almost there.  I’m pretty sure very few people would like to relive 2020.  With all its turmoil I did learn a lesson I hope to keep for the rest of my days.

A couple of weeks ago, while helping my granddaughter, Eva, with her golf game, I noticed she did better when she swung more deliberately.  She’s played golf a few times over the years but not on a regular basis.  She’s got a nice, fluid, natural swing, and could be very good if she played more, but she hasn’t.  While at the driving range, she hit the turf time after time and became frustrated.  That’s a normal reaction for anyone.  After each practice swing, she’d seek my advice.  How did it look?  Was she keeping her head down? Was she following through?  What else should she do?

When we got to the first tee of the 130 yard parr three, I told her to hit her four iron, and “Swing like you mean it.”  She did.  The ball hit the front of the green, rolled towards the back, and after two putts, she parred the hole.  As the round progressed she had successes and failures.  The one constant was when she “hit it like she meant it”, she did better.

I played in my first “men’s day” of the season yesterday.  As I walked to the first tee, I remembered the advice I offered Eva.  “Swing like you mean it.”  I did, and I found success.   I tried to play those words in my head with each shot and played my best round of the season.  It’s going to be my swing thought from now on.   Like Eva, I sometimes get discouraged when I hit a bad shot.  I become tentative and don’t give it my best.  Having a positive swing thought helped me achieve success.

I think the idea has applications for activities other than golf.  We should be living life like we mean it all the time.  If it’s worth doing, its worth giving it our best shot.  Being deliberate and intentional applies to everything.  I know when I was working my greatest successes were the result of giving it my all.  I sought the assistance of others when I needed it, and did my best to help them be their best.

In 2021 I’ll try to be kinder, listen to more music, dance more often, sing louder (and on key), read more widely, be a better friend,  touch more softly, play harder, walk more briskly, care with passion, be thankful for every day, and do all of the above “like I mean it”.