Forrest Gump said that his mother described life as being like a box of chocolates, ‘You never know what you’re gonna get’. Well it was something like that, and those who always seem to mistakenly choose the orange cream will possibly know what she meant, unless of course the orange cream is your favourite!

I recently gave a talk to the Moretonhampstead branch of the University of the 3rd Age (U3A). The U3A is an organisation for men and women no longer in fulltime paid employment, who meet to share common interests and a desire to learn for its own sake.

Sometimes I have clear reminderers of how I am getting older, simple things like having to put my foot up to tie my shoelaces. It will not be long before I can join the U3A, enjoy cinema outings with tea provided and travel anywhere for free on the bus. Should I be depressed?

I recently began to enjoy playing golf. It looks so easy on the television but as someone said the first 30 years are the worst. At least I get out in the fresh air and Herself gets a few hours of peace. Mrs. Gump thought life was like a box of chocolates but to me it is certainly like a round of golf.

When you are young you stand on the threshold of life, or on the tee in my analogy. You feel powerful and confident, able to take on the whole world and you attempt to hit the casing of life. Sometimes youthful exuberance carries you through, other times excitement and over confidence leads you into the rough and experience becomes a stern master. As we get older hopefully experience gives us more control.

Certainly on the Fairway, club selection is important and shots need to be more subtle. Maybe as we age we develop gentleness and lightness of touch, we mature as human beings and possibly as golfers.

The saying in golfing circles is that you ‘drive for show and putt for dough’ and of course the green needs the most care and skill. So by the time we have reached the third age hopefully we have developed the ability to read the line ‘ know the amount of strength needed and develop a true gentle touch’. Should we fear getting older? I think not, for every stage of life has its excitements and challenges. When we look back from the green our paths may not have been as straight as we would have liked. Diversions can sometimes make getting to the putting surface even more satisfying however, even with all the orange centres along the way.

Michael

Quote for the month ‘Patience is power; with time and patience the mulberry leaf becomes silk’ (Chinese proverb)