Centuries ago, Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius said, "Vex not thy spirit at the course of things; they heed not thy vexation. How ludicrous and outlandish is the astonishment at anything that may happen in life."Translation: "Fahgetaboutit!
While his realistic and calculated assessment of fate seems logical, it overlooks the secret of dreamers: enthusiasm. Those of us who "expect great" know how powerful the will of the heart can be. Possibility is what happens when spirit meets a dream.
Did you know that the word enthusiasm comes from the Greek word theos, meaning God and thus, entheos means “to have God within”? Ralph Waldo Emerson observed that, “Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.”
Keep in mind that what eventually happens is not as important as how we feel about what eventually happens.
I remember a story of two weekend golfers who both averaged in the 90’s. One of them teed off on a Saturday morning and couldn’t believe the round he was having as he “birdied” the first nine holes. That is, he was nine strokes under par with nine holes to go. If he could just par the last nine, he would set a new course record. As it turned out, he “bogied” the last nine (one over par on each) and ended up with an even par 72.
It was the best round of his life, yet he was furious about what happened.
Golfer number two teed up that afternoon and as he was accustomed to doing, bogied the first nine. He was a having an average round and enjoying his friends. Low and behold, he then birdied the last nine holes, also shooting a 72 and celebrated into the night. He too, had experienced the best round of his life.
Two golfers with the same outcome, but each with a different outlook.
So, today, this hour, this moment, let your outlook be one of gratitude as you fill the other half of your glass of life with enthusiasm.
William Shakespheare answers Marcus Aurelius with, "Our doubts are traitors, and make us lose the good we oft might win by fearing to attempt."
I’m golfing with Bill.
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