One Swing Philosophy — What Golf Taught Me About Life

I don't think I have more luck than other people. I think I've simply learned how to notice it. We often hear that everyone gets a few big strokes of luck in life. But these days, I wonder if luck comes to us much more often than that. Maybe many of our lucky moments are just too small to notice. For me, a good cup of coffee can be a little piece of luck. A delicious meal shared with someone I like can be a little piece of luck. A beautiful golf shot that comes unexpectedly can be a little piece of luck. Even a funny scene at a swimming pool can become a little piece of luck. Yesterday, for example, I saw several senior swimmers secretly following an aqua exercise class from a distance. They knew they weren't actually part of the class, and they were smiling as they copied every movement. It was so funny that I started laughing to myself. And then, without even realizing it, I started following along with them in the water. Yes, I joined their little secret lesson, too. ㅎㅎ ...

Yesterday, I met a close older friend for lunch. We hadn’t seen each other for a little while, so we had a lot to talk about. These days, one of our favorite topics is surprisingly simple: weeds. 😂 Yes, weeds. We talk about how to get rid of them, how quickly they grow, and how much easier life becomes when the weeds are under control. Then, naturally, our conversation moves to the trees we grow in our fields. She grows olive trees, and I have quite a bit of experience growing Hwangchil trees. Since my mother was a farmer, I grew up hearing and learning a lot about farming, so I sometimes find myself giving her little pieces of advice. For example, when I first planted my Hwangchil trees, I learned how important it was to help the roots settle well into the ground. Jeju is famous for its strong winds. If a young tree isn't planted firmly enough and its roots aren't well established, the tree can keep shaking in the wind—and sometimes, it may not survive. So there we were, sit...