Emotions. I’ve had the devil’s time learning to keep mine in check, particularly on the golf course. Being a middling player at best, frustration has been my constant companion. And it’s strange that it should be so, because, as a friend once remarked, I’m not good enough to get angry about a missed shot. That fact, however, never seemed to stop me. But I worked on it. Yesterday, it paid a dividend.

I went down to Comfort to play golf with my brother. The front nine went well, and I thought I was set for a good round because the back nine at the course we play is a softer challenge. But on the seventh hole my brother hurt his back and was forced to leave after the ninth. I was left to play on, alone with strangers. Things didn’t go well at first. Six holes in, it was bad. Then the worm turned. I made par on each of the final three holes despite finding myself behind trees on one of them and in sand traps on each of the final two.

On three occasions, a bad shot put me in trouble, and on three occasions I recovered. And the reason was simple. I put the bad shot behind me, immediately, and concentrated only on the next. Not once did my emotions overwhelm me. I stayed in the present. I executed. So, if indeed, I have learned my lesson, it seems as though this may stand me in good stead. Even though I’m in the waning years of my life, it would be nice to finish that life knowing I can handle adversity with dignity and calm. To hurt, then heal. To sorrow, then laugh. And to do it all with grace accompanied by a gentle smile.