Align Yourself for Change, and BAM! It Just Happens.
Not always as fast as we'd like, but change will come.
I’m coming to you this week with a golf story.
And actually, it’s a story less about golf and more about life.
(So, if you’ve never picked up a club or threw yours out of the car window after a bad round in ‘97, you’ll still be able to relate.)
If you’ve followed some of my pieces outside of Substack, you might know that over the past year, I’ve had some trouble hitting my tee shots.
Who am I kidding? My game was a disaster.
I’m still not sure whether it was my bum shoulder or if my theory was correct that aliens had taken over my body. Either way, I was struggling.
It was the darndest thing.
It got especially ugly when I played in my husband’s golf league. (Always fun to stink when playing with your husband’s work people.)
I had no consistency and would either hit like the good old days when I could almost outdrive my brother or play like it was my very first round.
The weird thing was, while my game was on-again-off-again, my golf writing gigs were ramping up. I got asked to go on a golf press trip to Lake Charles, LA, where I’d play with golf pros and fellow golf writers - sometimes 27 holes per day.
With this trip on the horizon, I knew I had to course correct.
So, I found a golf pro near my house and signed up for a crash course in “My game has gone to hell, help.”
Well, the lessons paid off (thanks, Matt!), and by the time my press trip came up, I was able to golf my way through the bayous of Louisiana. I even got invited back on another trip the following month, this time to Alabama. Yet, once there, my game wavered again, especially on the tee.
This is where it really pays off to travel with fellow golf writers - they’re like a NASCAR driver’s pit crew. Fred, Phyllis, Eli, Barry, Kelly, Pam, Tom, and Tony were there to help as I had my “moments” on the awesome but challenging holes of the RTJ Golf Trail. They all gave me tips that I often use, but it’s the advice from golf writer and golf pro-Tony that is (you knew it was coming….) What I’d Rather Be Talking About this week:
After playing a few holes with Tony, he asked if I minded if he gave me a few tips on my drives.
I told him to bring it on.
Before reading further, you need to know that Tony has a really cool, calm British accent. (So please, read the following with an accent.)
“You’ve got a wonderful swing. You know how to hit it. Now, it’s just about changing a few small things so you can hit well every single time.”
He then gave me a mini lesson in lining up with the target, addressing the ball, and a few other suggestions.
“It just takes practice and concentration, and…”
(This is the good part…)
“The important thing is to remember that any change takes awhile. And then, over time… it just happens. You don’t notice the moment it does change… but before you know it, you’ve made the change and it’s a part of your routine.”
BAM.
I think about that every time I’m out on the course, working on my game and waiting for all the small tweaks to stick and transition into permanent changes.
It’s about patience and persistence, which works for golf and any other change we’re working on.
Speaking of making changes, I curated some resources below that will help put systems in place to bring on some positive changes.
Enjoy,
Abbey
little ways to incorporate change:
Let’s start with some ATOMIC HABITS - Tiny Changes that Create Remarkable Results by James Clear. One of the best takeaways from this short video is, “Outcomes in life are a lagging measure of your habits. The thing that needs to change is the habits that proceed with the outcomes. Small habits matter.”
Speaking of habits… try The 5-Minute Rule and check out 7 Habits that will Save You 3+ Hours a Day.
In terms of small changes… start by decluttering your closet, then hack your laziness to get organized, and end with these fun tips if you’re feeling particularly chaotic in the organization department.
But none of this matters if your health isn’t in order. Find out how to prioritize your health for business and life, plus tips to keep your brain healthy. Not necessarily related, but fun - I’m going to try this anti-inflammatory chickpea curry dinner because anti-inflammatory foods are always good.
(And now for our regular features…)
podcasts, streaming, & more:
What I’m thinking of eating/making:
🥙 What a dietitian eats in a day, cheap & healthy recipes from Hungry Happens, and you can improve your microbiome by eating plants.
What I’m watching:
👱 No need for botox or hair color if your name is Adaline… catch “The Age of Adaline” on Netflix for this well-written, well-produced movie about an ageless woman. (Here’s the trailer.)
What I’d like to buy (or not buy):
👘 Some great Amazon finds from Valentina and how to make your outfits look more expensive without buying anything.
What I’m listening to:
🎧Find out All the Life Hacks in the Most Powerful Paradoxes of Life, and check out Time to Walk (where famous people walk and share life stories) - this one features Al Roker. Plus, What to Watch, The Best List Ever from Chalene Johnson.
Actual shot of the number of balls I hit in 2023, trying to get my groove back.
on a serious note
Whatever change or changes you’re working on… remember the important thing is to keep at it.
The more you persist, the closer you’ll get to your goal, and pretty soon, that change you’ve been looking to make will just be a part of your routine.
It might take six thousand range balls to get there, but… stick with it. You’ll be glad you did.
Thanks for reading, friends.
See you Saturday,
Abbey
One of the many paths on the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail.