Kenny Rogers Was Very Wise.
I'm not a gambler, but I've learned when to fold'em.
It’s late Wednesday afternoon as I sit down to write this intro. Normally, I’m sending this off to my editor (#husband) right now and getting ready to schedule for publishing on Thursday morning.
But here’s the deal. This week’s newsletter has been a bit of a struggle because the topic I wanted to write about - golf lessons learned from a podcast - just wasn’t coming together. It was really starting to stress me out - tick-tock, it’s almost Thursday.
And then, today at lunch, I had a revelation.
Maybe I was forcing the piece.
I mean, if I can’t run with my own self-chosen topic, maybe I wasn’t supposed to write about it. (I’m pretty insightful sometimes, no?)
After realizing the need to abandon this topic (at least for now), I realized I’m no stranger to pushing things to the limit and subsequently ignoring messages from the Universe that maybe I should REDIRECT my efforts.
Case in point: all summer, I’ve been deeply pursuing (borderline stalking editors like a high school girl stalks a crush) a writing trip to Spain to cover the Women’s Solheim Cup and the Junior Women’s Solheim Cup.
What is the Solheim Cup, you may ask? It’s the female version of the Ryder Cup, where the best women US golfers play against Europe’s best.
Since (in my opinion) the Solheim Cup doesn’t get the coverage it deserves, it’s taking place in my favorite place on earth, and further, since I happen to be a golf writer… I thought it was my destiny to be in Spain this September to cover the event.
I mean, not to brag, but I challenge you to find someone who loves Spain as much as I do (it’s on a cosmic level, folks) and someone who also seeks out inspirational & moving stories about golf to bring more women to the game and Spain.
With this fuel, I pitched my story ideas to every golf & tourism outlet remotely connected to the event. I contacted resorts in Spain and reached out to vendors, coaches, golf organizations, and golf websites and magazines.
I did this until it dawned on me What I’d Rather Be Talking About this week:
Sometimes, even though we want something very much,
it’s simply not meant to be.
Maybe just for that moment, maybe ever.
And while persistence is a beautiful thing, sometimes we need to redirect our energy in a new direction and see what happens.
And here’s the thing.
When I realized that I needed to let up a bit… opportunities came my way.
To date, I am not traveling to the Solheim Cup (unless someone reading this needs a story)…
Instead, I’m headed to Lake Charles, LA, this October to find out what a girls’ golf getaway at a Casino & Spa might look like.
This wasn’t on my radar when I started my quest to cover golf this fall, but now, I’m pretty psyched. (And stay tuned for the story!)
Here’s to letting go to let new things in.
And now, some new things for you to consider.
Abbey
LISTEN
The Ripple Effects of Acting on a Dream - Motivational speaker and show creator Ben Nemtim shares his secrets of living the life of your dreams on this episode of Move With Heart.
Insider travel info, secret getaways, and one-of-a-kind experiences are yours to discover in the Travel That Matters podcast. In this episode, Chris Jackson of Jackson Family Wines tells us all about the “New Napa Valley.” Tune in to find out all about Healdsburg in Sonoma County.
Do you want to learn more about our food supply and how to ensure what you’re eating is okay? Tune into Almost Thirty and How to Navigate a Corrupt Food Industry. It’ll have you reading labels next time you’re grocery shopping.
STREAM
How to Age Gracefully- A look at life advice through the ages.
I’ve got September 13 on my calendar… to watch Season 3 of The Morning Show with Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon (Apple TV). Find out what else to watch in Cosmo’s The Best Fall 2023 TV Shows.
COOK
Balanced bowl recipes that are easy to customize
Need office lunches? These are easy to make and fascinating to watch.
Random but delicious: 31 Avocado Recipes for 31 Days.
DINNER DELIVERED
Maybe you’ve tried HelloFresh or Blue Apron… but you’re looking for something new. Something you can personalize a bit? If your dinner requirements rival Sally’s pie order, then check out Territory Foods (for my gluten-free, dairy-free, sugar-free pals), CookUnity (for restaurant lovers with diverse pallets), or Thistle (for vegans & vegan wannabes).
TRAVEL
If you’re a golfer, there are plenty of options for a fall golf getaway. But here’s an idea: find a great course you want to play, and contact them about stay-and-play opportunities. Check out this Wisconsin course that’s full of history and absolutely beautiful and offers a stay-and-play experience in a nearby historic inn.
Maybe you just want a fall weekend getaway without the golf. What could be better than NYC in the fall? Or Aspen? Or?
READ
Head to Listverse for a wormhole full of inspiration, stories of superhuman strength, haunted places to visit in Wisconsin, and cheese pancakes for breakfast (it’s a thing).
ON A SERIOUS NOTE
If I were a gymnast, I’d get a “10” for sticking the most Ironic Landing in the history of newsletters.
Because here’s the deal.
I told you at the beginning of the newsletter that I originally wanted to write about golf lessons I learned in a podcast.
Well, I’m going to end with those.
The lessons came when the hosts of Talking.Golf recapped the Wisconsin State Open and talked about the character and habits of the winner, Cameron Huss. Both hosts talked about how Cameron’s success was due to the following:
Consistency - in his practice and attention to his game.
Ability to focus on one shot at a time.
Staying present in the moment - a secret weapon on the greens.
Looking at events as a springboard to other opportunities - honoring commitments to play in various events even after several days of rigorous tournament play.
Showing up day after day to give it his best - trusting that it will pay off in the end.
Now, I could argue that I’ve been doing all those things, and I haven’t yet accomplished my goal of a writing assignment at the Solheim. In other words, I haven’t achieved my goal, right?
Well, I’m begging to differ with myself… because I’ve got to believe that when we show determination and relentless effort, our efforts will pay off.
Just not always as we imagine.
But if we don’t play the game, nothing happens.
Here’s to staying in the game and playing it to the end.
Until next week,
Abbey
