Fore! Making New Friends

For those who have been following my blog, you may remember my husband and I recently returned from a trip having driven across the country. We brought our golf clubs on the journey, excited at the prospect of stopping along the way to enjoy some time on the green in cities we had never played. However, our plans didn't work out too well for the majority of the trip. Basically, an onslaught of rain and wind limited our golfing opportunities. Despite this, we did finally find a day when we could play in Colorado.

We made our tee time. Finally! When we checked in the following morning, the young man informed us that a last-minute reservation was made, and we would be playing with another twosome. This news gave me a bit of anxiety. I'm not really comfortable playing golf with strangers. To be perfectly honest, it's because I am not a very good golfer and I don't like to hold people up when we're playing or feel pressure to hit the ball well. And I don't want to embarrass myself- I'm sure anybody new to the sport can understand this! In the past, we've had a few experiences being paired with people who were impatient, in a hurry, thought they were the greatest golfers ever, and showed their dissatisfaction with being paired with people not at their same level. So maybe you understand my apprehension. On the flipside, we have been paired with some really nice people too! My husband has said to me multiple times to just enjoy playing no matter who we are playing with. And he's right.

So off we went to meet our golfing buddies for the day, Ryan and Todd. My husband's name is also Todd so that would become part of the jokes for the day with two guys named Todd. As we played, we learned a lot about each other. Ryan and Todd are best friends from college, in their early forties, one is expecting a baby boy with his girlfriend and the other was engaged to be married. Ryan was extremely funny with a terrific sense of humor. His physical appearance, intellect, and mannerisms were remarkably similar to those of one of my friends back home. It was astonishing!

They both made our round of golf very comfortable, especially for me. We clicked along from hole to hole losing golf balls along the way. We played18 holes, (normally I'm done after12) navigating the challenges of the course. However, the combination of laughter and friendly competition made the holes fly by, and before we knew it, we had completed our game. We connected on so many levels and shared many of the same values, beliefs, music and more. Although getting paired up with new people on the golf course isn’t usually my favorite scenario, this time it turned out to be a delightful surprise.

Afterwards, they invited us to the clubhouse where we gathered at a high-top table and enjoyed delicious appetizers and refreshing drinks. It was the perfect way to unwind after a great day on the course. The guys exchanged contact information, promising to keep in touch. They mentioned they were planning a trip to Reno/Tahoe to play golf in early September and asked if we'd be interested in potentially joining them. We said our goodbyes and were on our way.

I learned a lot that day from Ryan, Todd and Todd. Kindness, patience, trusting in humanity and how to relax on the golf course. The lesson, of course was to stop judging a book by its cover. You never know what's inside. Just because you've had a couple negative things happen, in whatever setting, doesn't mean it will always happen. My nervousness to play golf with strangers subsided and I'm grateful for that lesson. I don't think Todd and Ryan realized how much their kindness and humor meant to us, especially me.

I think my husband and I were meant to meet them that day. It was a much-needed reminder how genuinely nice people really are and how spending time with one another is a wonderful thing. When you open your heart and mind to participate wholeheartedly and truly engage with others, you'll see that we are more alike than we often think. In this case, complete strangers truly blessed us.

Whether at the lunch table or on a golf course—wherever you may be—you can learn a lot about others through conversation and laughter, and who knows, maybe even make new friends! Kindness and laughter can significantly impact your mental and physical well-being. I'll take more of that, how about you? So, stop judging a book by its cover (if you are). Life is too short for fear, bitterness, anxiety, selfishness, pride and more.

At this point in my life, I'm prioritizing kindness, love, and gratitude for all that God has provided. My focus is on building new friendships and strengthening those genuine relationships that nourish my soul and enrich my life.

I hope you choose the same path!

I'd love to hear how you have been blessed by an unexpected act of kindness or connection. And if you haven't subscribed on my website I encourage you to do so. It's free!

From my heart to yours, we'll gather at the table next week.

Angela