As we were finishing up the 18th hole my friend chipped the ball onto the green only to have it roll off on the other side. Frustrated, she walked past the flag to the other side of the green. In disgust, she vigorously chipped up and we thought the ball was going to fly past the pin yet again. Instead, it hit the flagstick and dropped into the hole for a bogey! What a surprise!!
Surprises come at us anytime. They can be joyful or frustrating. We welcome the ones that make us smile. However, frustration occurs when our expectations don’t match reality and we perceive a negative impact. We become disappointed.
Knowing and truly believing that anything is possible at any time can cushion unpleasant surprises. Keeping a perspective, knowing that we can handle things and breathing help too.
Surprises, by their nature, are unexpected and unpredictable. By staying open to what happens we can handle them.