Get Gusty-- FORE GOLF

Getting gutsy is all about stepping outside your comfort zone to reach your goals and live a life that makes you truly happy. This post is my entry for Jessica Lawlor’s Get Gutsy Essay Contest. To get involved and share your own gutsy story, check out this post for contest details and download a free copy of the inspiring Get Gutsy ebook.

Get Gutsy--FORE GOLFFor the last couple of years my girlfriends have participated in a women's golf league one weeknight in the summer it was a combination of a lesson and game play.

I always said, “I am too busy or golf is too slow for me or I will learn in 20-30 years from now.”

This particular group of girlfriends is unique we have all grown up together and so have most of our husbands in the group. I was the only girlfriend/wife who didn't golf! And I was ok with it most of the time. My husband has been golfing since he was in his teens- I would tell him we could golf together when we get older. I felt like he had his hobbies and I had mine. I have missed out on plenty of couple's golf nights, golf tournaments and outings. I would have a little “fomo” (fear of missing out) but I would move on and be busy with something else. I work for a non-profit hospital so I have volunteered at plenty of golf tournaments driving the beverage cart, watching for a hole in one or selling raffles.

But my feelings and thoughts changed in August 2014 I was going to “get gutsy” and try something new. Our friends were planning a couples golf night at the local golf course-- glow in the dark golf! I thought I can handle nine holes of glow in the dark golf - no one would be able to see how poorly I would do. I was in it for the fun summer night out. The planner of the night procrastinated and the golf course didn’t have space for 12 people. The girls thought I was going to bail when our plans changed and we were making it our own night out at a different golf course. So I borrowed clubs, I put on my khaki capri’s, running sneakers, baseball hat from a charity golf tournament, and came to play my first nine holes. We were paired up in teams- the couples with two kids, one kid, and team no kids. My husband and I were on team no kids. Here I go-I was actually going to golf! I had to take a picture of my husband and I, he quickly informed me we were not going to document the whole golf game and I needed to be ready to play. I was so nervous but felt I didn’t have anything to lose; these were my friends they knew I didn’t golf. So we played nine holes, some were better than others. But I truly believe if you want to figure out if the sport is for you this is the way to go! I kept wanting more and really got to understand the way the game is played in the short time on the course. I said, “I could get used to this!” Of course I didn’t know all the rules, what club to use, but I wanted more.

~here we go first time golfing~

~team no kids~

About two weeks later my husband got an email from the golf course where we were married advertising a women's fall clinic, six weeks taking place on Wednesday evenings. My husband encouraged me to sign up. I did! It was then I figured I would search around craigslist for golf clubs, but with encouragement we went to the sporting goods store and purchased a brand new starter set and golf shoes. The investment was made, now I needed to take this new hobby and go forward with it.

During the six weeks, me and eleven other women met to learn the game of golf. I was one of the youngest in the group which I was a little surprised at. I learned the rules, techniques and tricks of the game. One important rule they said was you have to get out on the course, practice and play. After the six week clinic finished my husband and I went out to play my first full 18 holes. It was at the same course I had played for our couple's night out. I was nervous, anxious and excited. I felt my strengths and weakness come out during this time on the course, but I thoroughly enjoyed myself. I wanted to get better, hit the ball straight, make the putt on the first try.

~driving the ball~

The next time I went out to play 18 holes was alone. I wanted to play, my husband was away for guys weekend, most of my girlfriends were tied up tending to their children and I didn’t plan far out so I couldn’t get someone else to play on a whim with me. Therefore I got gutsy and went alone. This was the second time I played a full 18 holes and I was going alone. I didn’t have a golf instructor with me or my husband. I was nervous but excited. I was going to play golf and play golf alone. I am a new golfer and playing alone!!! One of the holes I caught up to the next group of foursome and they told me to play ahead of them. I tried to convince them I would wait, but they insisted I play forward. Here I was all by myself and I had to drive the ball past them and hope I would not flub in front of these men. It was the best drive I had all day. That hit gave me the confidence to know I got this. I may not be the best but I can handle my own and keep up with the flow of the game. I am looking forward to getting back out on the course this spring!

I am happy  I didn’t wait 20-30 years to learn how to play golf. I am even ok with the peer pressure from my girlfriends. I am thankful I had enough courage to seize the day and golf alone. I will continue to step out of my comfort zone and continue to try new things and #getgusty.

Phillies 5k

Three years of running the same race!

First of all three years ago I started this journey! Well technically I'm on my third year of this journey! 2012, 2013, and now 2014... the year I run a half marathon!

Together it was Chrissy & I's third time!

~l-r, 2014, 2013 bottom rt corner~ 2012 top rt corner~

This year we were happy to have a bunch of friends run this race! It was a chilly start. But it was sunny and it was the warmest yet of all the Phillies 5k's that I have done.

~kate, shannon, staci, linda, chrissy, me~

I was super excited for my other sister-in-law Linda to run her first 5k!! I was also super excited for my friend Kate to run her second 5k! Linda and Kate have both been following the couch to 5k program. The one that I used to get my butt in gear! Linda is a very busy working mom of two and she managed to set her mind to a goal and she achieved it. Kate is a new mom to Everly and she too has made time to get her workout on. I say it all the time, I hope that one day when I become a mom I can fit in time to make it all work! I'm sure I'll figure it out just like they have!

Linda did it!

The crazy part of this is...earlier in the week when I was talking to Linda about the race she was telling me that she thought she was running 15 minute miles. I told her no way, that is like walking. Well Linda started off fast and I worried she would tire out before the end of the three miles, but she was truckin' the whole way. She didn't stop! I even had to catch up to her at one point! We did the race in 34:53, I like to sprint out the last stretch but I wanted to finish with Linda. She told me she had to keep her pace as is! That was ok. I knew I wasn't going into this race for speed. Last year I did- 34:28 and the first year, 36:04.

~after~

Next up I am doing the Hot Chocolate Run on April 6th followed by the Organ Donor Dash, Broad Street 10 miler and finally May 18th the WildHalf. I'll probably take it easy on races until 4th of July! Although I would like to do a June race. I haven't done one of those yet! Now if only the weather would cooperate for us to get more training runs in! This week it has been frigid! Where is the springtime weather??!?!

Wordless Wednesday

Our party for St. Patrick's Day

We're very lucky to have a great group of friends. A while ago, we all sort of selected our "holidays" to host a party. Brian and I host the St. Patrick's Day party. We always enjoy it. This year we were trying to get this never ending Mud Room project finished before the party, but that didn't happen.  {still not done}

For the first time in a long time, we actually felt like we didn't have enough food for the party. It turned out we would have been fine, however Brian sent me out two hours before the party to get some sausage to make up for sausage sandwiches. We didn't stick to well with the Irish theme, we had pulled pork, chicken wings, jalapeno dip, and a bunch of other things. Our friends all brought yummy treats too. We had a fridge full of Irish beer, we still have some! I made a great peachy sangria. Next time I will make it two or three days in advance. It has slowly gotten better with time! I guess all the natural sugars have helped with the taste.  Overall it was another successful party for the books!

~some of the gals~

Al & Chrissy

Brian is making fun of me-- he said I'm on the calendar too much!

Dad & I 

Wordless Wednesday

Dinner at Darren's

Well the time came, Darren moved out of our house a couple of weeks ago. He had been with us since August of 2012. He didn't go too far away. He has decided to rent an apartment a couple of towns over or six minutes away as he says! It is an adjustment for Brian and I too -- getting back into the groove without my brother living with us.

Last week Darren invited us over for dinner after work, but Brian stayed home and worked on the Mud Room project which is an ongoing task. However my Dad and Rachel did join in for dinner. Darren made spaghetti and meatballs. He picked up the homemade meatballs by Zallie's Shoprite. They were very good he said they were in the meat department. I would definitely buy them! He did a great job hosting his first dinner at his new place. Rachel picked up dessert at our favorite bakery, Sweetsboro.

I'm so proud of him.  My little brother is growing up!

Comedy Club Night

The other night my Mom and I ventured into Philadelphia for a great night out at Helium Comedy Club. It was the first time that we attended this place. But before we went to the show, we had a quick tasty dinner at Shake Shack. Great burger and fries. I haven't had the shakes yet, but they are supposed to be out of this world. While we were eating we kept reminiscing about her in past movies, her talk show, The View, and so on. I used to even listen to her radio show on satellite radio. After we had our dinner we went back to the comedy club for the show, we had to wait 10-15 minutes until the doors opened. Once they opened we were brought to our table--tiny table -- we were packed in the place the people on both sides of us were very close. They announced a two drink minimum, I thought it was a table minimum. Nope... both of us! We started out with after dinner drinks followed by expensive bottled water! Two comedians went on before Rosie, the first was a local gal, the second had been on Conan and other late night shows. We laughed and were eagerly waiting for Rosie to come on!!

We couldn't wait for her to come on. Once it was her turn she performed stand up for about an hour and ten minutes or so. We couldn't stop laughing. She is really funny. She may be controversial, out spoken and loud, but hey-- she is funny. I know some people can't stand her, but others love her. I think she is funny and I'm so glad my Mom & I went! She is out doing a comedy tour before she does a big HBO special. She talked about her life, kids, friends, told us stories, interacted with the audience. It was fun! The crowd was diverse for sure- straight, gay, old, young, and everything in between. The message that she left us all with for sure was about her massive heart attack that she had in 2012. She told a statistic about how 30,000 women die from breast cancer each year and 300,000 die each year from heart disease. More people hear about the breast cancer awareness not as much with heart disease. It was moving to hear her personal story. She of course kept a funny bit going with her somber story. She definitely kept the night going longer than I thought.  It was well worth the money for the tickets. I'm so glad my Mom & I went. I was happy we got to go, another one for the books!