golf. it’s good. in a lemon plaid kinda way
Right now I’m on a hobbies rampage. It started when I declared that I like men with hobbies. I had a cup of tea with a guy the other day who just started painting and I was immediately attracted.
A hobby denotes an ability to shut off from what “you’re meant to be doing” and to suspend for a bit doing something out of curiosity. There’s no pat-on-the-back-able purpose to it. It’s just about being with yourself and seeing what comes up. People who take the time and effort to open themselves up to this exploration are wonderful people to be around.
I realised I haven’t had a hobby for a while. Mountain biking was it for years. My adventures up and down hills were a great space for me to explore what made me “me”. Oh, the places I went (I’ve ridden around NZ, Tasmania, Brisbane to Cairns, California, Spain, Vietnam…all on the same saddle; the most reliable, stable thing I’ve probably ever put between my legs…).
I'm the one in pink. Lap 3 of 24-hour race, Canberra.
But to golf. I had my first lesson today. I think it could be a good hobby.
Because:
* It’s about agility and focus and being in the flow. Where the mind goes, the energy flows. And when you focus 100 per cent on being with your movement, you connect with the ball every time and send it in the right direction. This is insanely satisfying. It’s a small experiment to play with yourself, but one that teaches you so much about stillness and “nowness”.
* It’s quite proper. The tradition and care that goes into the game and all the protocol surrounding it (which I’ve always dismissed as stuffy and lemon plaidy) actually makes for something lovely and stable to be part of on a Sunday. It’s like when you sit down to tea made with a beautiful pot and a nice cup with a strainer…it tastes better because it’s done proper.
* A lot of blokes play. The driving range at Moore Park, Sydney, today was oozing men. You walk in as a chick on your own and I tell you, you suddenly feel like the most fascinating person on the planet. If you’re single this is ace. Plus, I think it’s good for women (single or otherwise) to do stuff that not a lot of other women do. It plants you in a different zone. Around men with a hobby, open to exploring themselves in some nowness.
PS. My mum always told me I needed a hobby. I was always bored as a kid. I’m typing this as I talk to her on the phone. She’s laughing at the irony.
livin in the moment is the best way to go about life because how else will u be able to truly enjoy it
Hi Sarah great blog post mate !!
-B
Hey Sarah, I’ve been reading your columns for a while now and love your blog, you have such a great, natural “voice” when you write, I look forward to a more regular fix of your thoughts!
Re: hobbies, I used to mountain bike until bad fall and a breakup with my then husband/mountain bike riding companion saw my mountain bike relegated to cobweb gathering duties, but golf, aah, golf, now I have stumbled into a sport where (finally) I’m not ridiculously bad at it and more importantly, it justifies a whole new extension of the wardrobe (think Kirsty Hinz/Clark and Sportscraft). For me and my now new husband, we have parked golf in the “we’ll play that when the kids have got older” hobby category (there are many of these) and still continue to beat our bodies into submission and with running and mountain biking (him!) . Still it’s nice to know there is a more sedate future hobby to look forward to in our golden years.
I’ve always wanted to get golf lessons. My dad and grandmother were good golfers, I’m hoping some of it is genetic…
Hi Sarah, love your column in Sunday life and the new blog as well. It’s a sweet, zen space to come to on a dreary Monday morning.
Good morning Sarah,
I enjoy reading your column in the Sunday Herald Life magazine. You have a mix of observation, reflection and practical tips…great blend.
Fantastci that I now have the opportunity to comment on your column and with your ideas through your blog.
On the 20th September you wrote about how you took counsel from a bunch of nice relaxed 22 year old blokes.
You commented that in their world it was uncool to be stressed! I really connected with that way of living (although in reality some days are harder to live that way!) .
Sometime ago I decided to banish (ok- minimise) the use of the word stress and busy from my life. I decided to live savvy…living a life that is full and filling not busy and stressed. It was liberating. When I hear the word busy I think of doing a lot without achieving much.
When people ask me how was your day? I usually answer full and filling. These are the days that are satisfying, focused on my needs and meeting the responsibilities of the life roles I have chosen for myself (mother, partner, business owner, student, friend, daughter, sister).
Sarah, have you noticed that people will ask the question and prompt you with the answer…”How are things, busy?”
You asked in your column if the rest of us can learn from this Zen outlook to change our lookout on life.
I believe that we can by finetuning how we look at our world, changing the words that we use and getting very clear on what is important to us and making sure that our choices align with what we value and believe in.
Golf is a fantastic hobby. You are right, it is insanely satisfying when you are in the “now” focusing on a little white ball with not a care in the world.
Envious of where you’ve ridden! Some amazing places.
I go to Moore Park driving range too..i love the challenege of constantly trying to perfect my swing..i’ve been on a hobbies rampage most of my teenage life and plan to continue..snowboarding, golf, scuba diving, surfing, photography, swedish..the list goes on..i definitely agree that guys with hobbies are far more interesting..that gives him something fun to teach you in a relationship..keep things interesting!