The Daily G.I.F.T. from The GratiDude

I like to check the mile markers at times to see how far I have traveled.

www.grateful4.org

Gratitude

Intention

First

Things

The G.I.F.T. Today

Grateful: for the arrow all pointing in the same and right direction in my life.

Intention-love yourself extra when you feel the need to be right, shrink ego with acceptance

First-AAA for golf car, get those new shoes on

Things-Check with Holt to see if he is around next week

Morning Platitude from The GratiDude

I just realized what an intense last 18 months I have had in my life because yesterday was the first time in 18 months that I played golf two days in a row.

I know, I know, for most people that aren’t avid golfers the fact that I had not played in consecutive days would not even register on the radar or be worth discussing.

But if you are a golfer, and if you look at my particular circumstance and situation in terms of where I live, how much I love to play golf, how good it is for me and my health and development AND the fact that I have tons of friends in the golf industry as well as a membership at a private club.

In short, it’s crazy that I have not played golf two days in a row, and it makes me realize just how focused I have been on launching my new coaching career and making the transition into this new phase of my life.

I am getting outside regularly, however the time needed to get out and play even 9 holes has been a stretch lately.

Yes, playing outside can help you spiritually and emotionally:

Spiritual benefits

Spending time in nature can strengthen your spiritual fitness and help you feel a connection with the earth. A study found that children who played outside five to 10 hours per week felt a spiritual connection with the earth, a sense of belonging, and peacefulness.

Emotional benefits

Nature can generate positive emotions like joy, calmness, and creativity. It can also help you feel happier and more likely to report that your life is worthwhile.

Mental health benefits

Being outside can help lower your risk of depression and help you recover from psychological stress faster.

Cognitive benefits

Nature bathing can increase your creativity and problem-solving. Outdoor play can also improve executive function in children.

You can enjoy the benefits of nature in many ways, including:

Gardening

Playing with your dog at the park

Washing your car

Meditating in the sun or under a tree

Light exercise like walking or trail riding

Birdwatching

Nature photography

Picnics and family outings

Swimming or fishing

Boating

You can find benefits in both green spaces and blue spaces (aquatic environments). More remote and biodiverse spaces may be especially helpful, but even urban parks and trees can lead to positive outcomes.

I had no idea until this morning how responsible and focused I truly am. I’m only partly joking here.

I’m sharing this experience and I have now documented my mornings for the last 400+ days and I feel like I’m just getting started. You’ll notice that my voice and the tone with which I write is one of honesty and openness with little concern for my own vulnerability. I must write this way otherwise it’s all bullshit and I’ll never be able to help anybody or be able to share anything valuable.

The valuable stuff I have has come out of suffering and my own trials and tribulations, and the fact that I know if I could save just one other person and provide a shortcut or a little bit of support how meaningful that can be and how that impact ripples out from that individual into their family their place of work in their community

That’s the thing I keep in mind that helping one student when they are ready, impacts and elevates the entire classroom.

I want to give a big thanks out to my friends Jam master Justin who is the Fearless Leader for the PGA Korn Ferry Golf Event that’s played right here in our little seaside Hamlet of Sarasota/Bradenton.

Justin was kind enough to invite me out to play in the First Tee fundraiser event at Laurel Oak country club yesterday and I had a wonderful time.

I saw my new friend Jon W Mustang out there who was kind enough to introduce me to Matt, the local Big Kahuna for the Sarasota/Manatee First Tee chapter.

I’m excited because our philanthropy model at www.grateful4.org has been designed to be a strategic complementary “tip of the spear” to go into the community at the grassroots level in at risk neighborhoods, providing funding directly to cohort leaders and implementing daily practices of gratitude and accountability to teach our next generation that happiness is an inside job.

I feel like First Tee nationally has plateaued in growth and what will allow its message of utilizing the tools and teachings of golf to uplift the at-risk youth is a deeper penetration into the community by leveraging folks closer to that community. This can only happen with an innovative approach and with some funding getting into the hands of the people that have the access to the kids e.g. Boys and Girls Clubs, Youth Sports Leagues, Girls, Inc., etc.

And when you COMBINE the funding and the access, you can now directly impact the community just like Jimmy Darts did with this kid working on his short game and putting, minding his own business at Kapalua. A few minutes later he ends up strolling the Plantation Course with Colin Morikawa.

Furthermore, folk like Jimmy Darts here are my new heroes and the equivalent of rock ‘n’ roll stars or sports stars for me now that I’m older and my aspirations are to help as many people as I can before I die.

I’ll keep experimenting with my talents and tools and find the right microphone and reach so I can reach the students that are ready for a teacher that simply wants to introduce them back to the self-love that they were born with and reestablish those connections to their higher-self AND to their spirituality of anything bigger than themselves.

It’s Fat Tuesday with a PHAT and remember that you create your own momentum through activity and momentum creates more momentum.

Trust your own process and you can always return to your breath if you feel anxiety or any other feelings that aren’t serving you.

Do not hesitate to reach out to me directly if I can help you with anything because that’s all I want to do and give you a little taste of my attitude of gratitude

EVERY DAY:

Love

and

Gratitude