Golf’s 18-hole course applies to life

 

Golf is a familiar sport to Filipinos, too.

A standard golf course has 18 holes, numbered 1 through 18. The first nine holes are referred to as the “front nine,” and the last nine holes – holes 10 through 18 – are called the “back nine” or the final nine holes.

It is in this context that I am sharing with you the story of ‘The Back Nine of Life’ posted by Norm McEvoy at this website: http://theeducator.ca/philosophy/the-back-nine-of-life/.

The reason why I am sharing this is because golf’s 18-hole course applies to all people’s life sooner and later.

I find it even more significant when you have siblings (there are 8 of us remaining, with 2 passing away earlier in life) who are all playing now the best way we could in our own respective ways and enduring the back nine of our lives.

Like our parents before us whom we remembered leaving behind when they were in their last nine holes because it was already our turn to play the front nine of our lives outside the confines of our home and town, we find ourselves now in their predicament as our own children are away playing in their respective first nine holes with the intensity to succeed the 18-hole course of life.

The following story explains what I mean.

The Back Nine of Life (author unknown)

I FIRST STARTED READING THIS EMAIL & WAS READING IT FAST TILL I REACHED THE THIRD SENTENCE.
I STOPPED AND STARTED OVER,  READING SLOWER AND THINKING ABOUT EVERY WORD.
THIS EMAIL IS VERY THOUGHT PROVOKING. MAKES YOU STOP AND THINK. READ SLOWLY!”             AND THEN IT IS WINTER!”

You know … time has a way of moving quickly and catching you unaware of the passing years. It seems just yesterday that I was young, just married and embarking on my new life with my mate. Yet in a way, it seems like eons ago, and I wonder where all the years went. I know that I lived them all. I have glimpses of how it was back then and of all my hopes and dreams.
But, here it is… the back nine of my life and it catches me by surprise…
How did I get here so fast? Where did the years go and where did my youth go? I remember well seeing older people through the years and thinking that those older people were years away from me and that I was only on the first hole and the back nine was so far off that I could not fathom it or imagine fully what it would be like. But, here it is!!…my friends are retired and getting grey…they move slower and I actually see and recognize an older person now.
Some are in better and some worse shape than I…but, I see the great change…
Not like the ones that I remember who were young and vibrant…but, like me, their age is beginning to show and we are now those older folks that we used to see and never thought we’d become. Each day now, I find that just getting out and going for a walk is a real target for the day! And taking a nap is not a treat anymore… it’s mandatory! Cause if I don’t on my own free will… I’ll just fall asleep where I sit!
And so…now I enter into this new season of my life all the aches and pains and the loss of strength and ability to go and do things that I wish I had done but never did!! But, at least I know, that though I’m on the back nine, and I’m not sure how long it will last…this I know, that when it’s over on this earth…a new adventure will begin!
Yes, I have regrets. There are things I wish I hadn’t done, things I should have done, but indeed, there are many things I’m happy to have done. It’s all in a lifetime. So, if you’re not on the back nine yet…let me remind you, that it will be here faster than you think. So, whatever you would like to accomplish in your life please do it quickly!
Don’t put things off too long!! Life goes by quickly.

So, do what you can today, as you can never be sure whether you’re on the back nine or not! You have no promise that you will see all the seasons of your life…so, live for today and say all the things that you want your loved ones to remember…and hope that they appreciate and love you for all the things that you have done for them in all the years past!!
“Life” is a gift to you. The way you live your life is your gift to those who come after.     Make it a fantastic one.
LIVE IT WELL! DO SOMETHING JUST FOR FUN! BE HAPPY !
“It is health that is real wealth and not the pieces of gold and silver.