Just Take A Mulligan

You’ve got the proper stance: knees slightly bent, left shoulder slanted above the right, holding your new Callaway golf club, eyes set on that hole in the putting green area.

You feel the soft wind brush your face as you prepare for your shot, knowing you have the right grip for the first tee. And as you release that drive swing with a bit of slice, you felt it even before the ball touched the grass; you mishit your shot. “Bad shot? Just take a mulligan”, your friend said.

The bad shot isn’t counted; you get to replay that stroke. You drop another ball on the ground for another chance.

Whatever mistakes we had in the past, today presents a mulligan for us, a chance for a do-over, a shot for redemption, an opportunity to make things right.

One, two, three months left. Three months to hit your hole in one.

You feel the cold winds brush on your body. Each stride sends a surge of adrenaline to your veins. Your eyes are dead set on finishing the race. Suddenly, you feel a searing pain course through your leg. You hear a pop, your muscles fail, and you can't take a single step without an ache. An echo in your mind believes you're done. But a louder voice drowns the former, saying "Don't give up. It's not over yet".

Such was the case of Olympic runner Derek Redmond. Redmond persevered amidst a torn hamstring and finished his 400-meter sprint. A similar story with Japanese runner Rei Iida who, after losing balance and breaking a leg, completed her relay by crawling on her knees. Both earned respect and praised for their persistence.

Redmond's and Iida's are just some of the stories that edify pushing through against hindrances in life. Different stories, different lives, but same "I can do it" mindset. Whatever they placed in their hearts to do, they see to it that they will see the finish line. No matter what the hurdles are.

The mind of a winner carries on against the odds.