Surf Boards, Golf Swings, and Life Balance

I wish it wasn’t so. I’d actually prefer reflecting on life in a number of other ways. Perhaps reflections on religious readings? Possibly quoting great philosophers from the past? Maybe citing leaders from the birth of our country, maybe even great coaches?

My reality? It all relates to surfboards and golf swings, training rooms and basketballs, shot-puts and defensive responsibilities. The crazy part is how quickly the analogies originate and formulate in my brain. The fascinating aspect is how they so often seem to work, providing a sense of clarity to a concept that may otherwise seem confusing.

Most often, they’re sports-related. But, not always. Airplanes and music ensembles, tugs-of-war and the school play. All geared toward offering clarity, each hoping to provide perspective on a train of thought perhaps never considered.

Ok. So what? Yes, analogies are an effective means of relating ideas and theories. Is there a more underlying message?

Simply this, that each and every experience in our lives is a breeding ground for a better understanding, a different way of viewing, a completely different angle on a what we thought was a stagnant reality, an opportunity for growth, all to be found within the simplest and most ordinary of occurrences.

Surfboards? Yes, I use this one often as an analogy for the ebbs and flows of life and the need to keep trying. There are times in life when we’re figuratively on our surfboard and catching the perfect waves. And we ride them for all they’re worth, finally stepping off as we come closer to shore. Those times, hopefully many, are when we need to remember the value of gratitude for all we’ve been given.

But there will be times when we simply can’t catch a wave. And when we finally do, for whatever the reason, we fall off again and again. These are the difficult times. Times to keep the faith. Times to persevere. Times to remember better times are coming.

A golf swing analogy? What can we possibly learn from a golf swing as it relates to gaining balance in our lives? Are you really going to try to sell me on each pertinent body part reaching point of impact at the exact same time in a golf swing being similar to our being at our absolute best each and every day of our lives? Ok. So, in what way?

Consider the premise that there are six areas of need in our lives, each requiring us to remain in relative balance to feel fulfilled, those being: creative, social, intellectual, emotional, spiritual, and physical. Then suppose each of these areas represents a body part critical to the golf swing, those being the legs, hips, chest, shoulders, arms, and hands. If I told you each of these needed to be in balance, would it mean much to you?

Well, each of these body parts represents an area of need in your swing. Each must arrive at point of impact simultaneously. Not doing so would be similar to our focusing on a few life essentials and leaving the others unattended. The result, like a golf swing when the hands are far behind the hips and shoulders, is a disastrous result, usually the ball slicing far to the right. By contrast, like meeting your personal needs in all six areas, when each of the body parts reaches the point of impact together, in unison, the ball has no choice but to release without side spin and down the center of the fairway.

Give thought to the six areas of personal need in your life, then consider the degree to which you’re meeting them on a regular basis. The golf swing is all about balance and timing. So are our lives.