Went golfing today with a group of guys that are part of the group that I am here teaching, a men’s retreat at Cannon Beach Conference Center. The weather was amazing as we golfed, and I got a little bit of a sunburn on my face. Golf can be a very frustrating game as you try and do everything just right so you can beat the other guys you are golfing with. On one par 5 hole I got on the green in three hits and was all excited only to hit the ball back and forth across the green missing the hole by an inch each time finishing with a double par, 10 strokes. Aaaaarrrrggggg It makes you mad enough to throw your putter in the lake to join the half dozen balls You hit in there earlier. Frustration is a sort of slow burn anger that builds caused by the failed attempts at a personal desire or goal, in this case hitting a little white ball into a hole with a fewer number of attempts then those you are playing with. Afterwards thinking about saying “crap” with great emotion and the feelings of frustration over the inability to do what I was trying to do, I felt a bit silly. But in real life off of the golf course that same feeling is felt over and over again as I fail to accomplish what I want to do. Managing that frustration and patiently persuing my goals, refining the skills needed, getting a little smarter, and growing in character is what life is about. golf and life.