Playing golf in the rain

One day I was walking in the rain and realized something surprising – when you get caught by the rain, you only worry about it for a short time. But when you're completely wet, you stop thinking about the rain. You just move on.

It was at this moment that I seemed to realize the beauty of the rain. The same thing happens during wars, catastrophes, crises, disasters, and other disturbing events. You only worry about them for a short time. Then you move on as if nothing had happened. You just accept a new reality and it becomes usual.

But the best of us always remain calm. And thanks to that, achieve extraordinary things in life. I guess it's not about the strength of character, probably not. Most likely the secret is in some kind of harmony - with yourself and with the world around you.

Perhaps, the best way to describe this harmony is through the game of golf.

Golf is played on a large course. This large course is similar to life or business. Each individual hole is similar to one of the many goals a person or a company might set for themselves.

In golf, there is one important rule – if the game has started, it must go on until the end. There is no pause. Players must complete all of the holes, one by one, without any delay. There are fines for delays. It's very similar to life. Life just goes on and you can't press pause.

There are many obstacles on a large golf course – trees, grass, sand bunkers, hills and turns hiding the holes, making the game more difficult. This is similar to the obstacles we face in life. Some obstacles are like sand bunkers and hills and turns on the golf course. Making our goals unclear and our life more difficult. And then, there's a wind, a noise from cars passing somewhere in the distance, loud music from some holiday home, birds, bright sun. And, finally, the rain.

Playing golf in the rain is the hardest. The ground becomes sticky, the grass is slippery, the air is cold. And raindrops have a very rough effect on the flight of the ball. But despite all of this, the game must go on. In golf, it doesn't matter if the weather is fine and windless or it's pouring like a bucket. The players must keep playing. No matter what. They all go through the course until the end. And only one of them can win.

One day I witnessed such a game. It was on that day that I learned a valuable, especially important lesson of life – the winner is not the one who has more practice or experience. But the one who finds harmony. Within self and with the world around him.

Just think about it for a moment. In a professional tournament, all players have practice and experience. A player can win the game today, but lose the next day. It's not a result of some lucky combination of circumstances, talent, training, a special diet, or meditation. Look closer. The winner just plays the golf and moves forward confidently. The winner is the one who finds harmony.

He doesn’t stop and worry about things. He doesn’t change the pace of walking. Nor does he change the pace of the game. Not even his swing. He doesn't say anything most of the time, trying not to disturb the harmony. He doesn’t even think too much. He remains completely calm. Neutral. And keeps this calm, neutral attitude to everything. To all the changes happening around – whether positive or negative. He doesn't respond to weather changes, to rain and wind, to noise and birds, to people talking behind his back, to opponents playing. He just embraces any change. And moves on.

Knowledgeable players try to find this harmony. Not everyone succeeds. Some can find harmony before the game. But lose it on the course – from an unexpected gust of wind, a bird taking off, or a sharp sound. Yet some start the game not in their best mood (having had too much breakfast, for example). But find harmony on the course. And this can change everything.

Life (and business, perhaps) is similar to golf. There are indeed successful people and profitable companies who have the sun shining. They stay confident in good weather and win one hole after another. But they don't know about the beauty of the rain.

At any moment, the weather can change dramatically. And only those who stay calm and embrace this sudden change - can go forward with confidence. After all, when it rains and you are already all wet, you will not worry about it. You'll find harmony.