LIFE ON THE BACK NINE
- Teri Angel
- 2 hours ago
- 3 min read
“Golf is the closest game to the game we call life. You get bad breaks from good shots; you get good breaks from bad shots -- but you have to play the ball where it lies.” - Bobby Jones.
Some of my best friends are golfers. I’ve never quite understood the appeal—why isn’t mini golf enough? I can manage that just fine. Yet the metaphor of golf as life feels right. Whether we enjoy the game or not, we are all playing. We live with what we have, where we are, and what shows up in front of us. If we don’t like our circumstances, we often think the answer is to change something external. My friend Norman occasionally swaps out his golf clubs, hoping for a better game. In life, we do the same—new cars, new homes, new relationships—believing that the next change will finally bring ease or happiness.
Being here in India this past month has gently shifted my perspective. This land, these friendships, and these powerful spiritual guides have been teaching me something deeper: the importance of self-awareness and conscious choice. My dear friend Pracheta is a planner. Her day begins with intention—meals, activities, timing all thoughtfully arranged. I, on the other hand, have always been more spontaneous, comfortable going with the flow and resisting the pressure of rigid schedules. Neither way is right or wrong. What I’m learning is that life isn’t asking us to become someone else—it’s inviting us to witness ourselves. To pause. To notice. To observe the thoughts that say, Do this… change that… hurry… fix… escape.
Witnessing our life requires courage. It’s easier to keep moving than it is to step back and watch the mind at work. Yet this witnessing—this sacred observing—is where wisdom lives. Perhaps that’s why I love writing so much. Writing allows me to stand gently beside my own life, see it clearly, and place it into perspective. Imagine if we all did this. Honestly. Without turning away from what we’d rather not see. What a different world we would create.
Dear Angels, what are we being asked to learn when life gives us “bad breaks from good shots” and “good breaks from bad shots”? How do we live wisely when we must play the ball where it lies?
Dear Ones, you are not here to control every shot, nor to perfect the game before you begin. Life unfolds as a living classroom, offering contrast so you may grow in awareness. When you resist what is, you struggle. When you meet what is with presence, you awaken. Playing the ball where it lies does not mean resignation—it means clarity. From clarity comes choice. From choice comes freedom. You need not replace the clubs, the course, or the companions to find peace. Peace arrives when you become the loving witness of your own journey. Honor your rhythms—whether planned or spontaneous. Learn from each step without judgment. When you observe your life with honesty and compassion, wisdom rises naturally, and grace becomes your guide. You are never failing. You are learning. And every moment offers a new way to play—with awareness, with love, and with trust.
Angels Whisper: Pause and observe before you act. In witnessing your life with love, you discover the freedom to choose anew—and grace meets you exactly where you stand.
Today, I promise to remember that it is not whether you win or lose but rather how well you play the game.
Teri Angel is a Happiness Coach, energy healer, best-selling author, spiritual teacher and mentor, and a motivational speaker. Teri is an International Peace Ambassador and the founder of a nonprofit organization, Angelspeakers Inc., which offers educational workshops and events centered around environmental awareness to include animals and nature, peace advocacy opportunities and ancient wisdom teachings. Teri’s movement “Peas For Peace” involves strengthening our awareness of the oneness of all, unifying mankind through compassion, peace, love and joy. She was named "She Who Blesses the Sacred Land" during the Peace On Earth Tour and embraces that title with loving grace. www.angelspeakers.com
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