“Just Bash the Living Sh*t Out of It” or ????
The Legend of Bagger Vance is a golf movie based on the 1995 book The Legend of Bagger Vance: A Novel of Golf and the Game of Life by Steven Pressfield. In the movie, Bagger Vance, played by Will Smith, offers to caddy for the local but lost golf hero Rannulph Junah, played by Matt Damon. Rannulph is “damaged” by war experiences and recedes into a life in the shadows, a life of drinking – recedes into not much of a life at all.
Rannulph is bullied into participating in a local golf exhibition against the 2 top professional golfers at the time – Bobby Jones and Walter Hagen. During the preparation and the matches, Bagger provides a steady stream of sage advice – at the surface addressing Rannulph’s golf game; however, with a little introspection, he hits at the soul of the person.
The caddy/golfer relationships starts with Bagger saying, “I hear you lost your swing. I guess we got to go find it.” He follows it up with this gem (from quotes.net – bolding is from me):
Yep... Inside each and every one of us is one true authentic swing... Somethin' we was born with... Somethin' that's ours and ours alone... Somethin' that can't be taught to ya or learned... Somethin' that got to be remembered... Over time the world can, rob us of that swing... It get buried inside us under all our wouldas and couldas and shouldas... Some folk even forget what their swing was like...
My question for you: Are you “living” your one true authentic swing or is it buried among the wouldas and couldas and shouldas?
If you have been following my posts for a while, you know this captures my recent past, captures my intentional pursuit of living MY True Life, and is at the heart of the I Dare to Act community. Bagger, in his folksy way, nudges us to internalize the message and make the necessary changes before its too late. Before we are among the many whose top regret in life (per Bronnie Ware) is I wish I'd had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.
Ok – back to Bagger and Rannulph… For me, Bagger offered needed advice regarding persistence, focus, and individuality.
Persistence - When Rannulph’s game is in the tank and he’s falling further and further behind:
Bagger Vance:
You wanna quit Mr. Junuh? You know you can just go ahead and creep off somewhere I'll tell folk you took sick... Truth be told, ain't nobody gonna really object... In fact, they'd probably be happy as bugs in a bake shop to see you pack up and go home...
Rannulph Junuh:
You know I can't quit
Bagger Vance:
I know... Just makin sure you know it too...
Focus – Bagger uses Bobby Jones shot preparation as a guide:
Put your eyes on Bobby Jones. Look at his practice swing, almost like he’s searching for something. Then he finds it. Watch how he settles hisself right into the middle of it, feel the focus. He’s got a lot of shots he could choose from. Duffs and tops and skulls, there’s only one shot that’s in perfect harmony with the field. One shot that’s his authentic shot, and that shot is gonna choose him. There’s a perfect shot out there tryin’ to find each and every one of us. All we got to do is get ourselves out of its way…
Individuality – We are on a personal, individual journey and its up to us to find it and live it.
You got to seek that place with your soul Junuh… Now I can’t take you there Junuh… Just hopes I can help you find a way… Just you – that ball – that flag – and all you are…
I’m talkin about a game… A game that can’t be won, only played…
You got a choice… You can stop or you can start…
Today and always – I encourage you to find YOUR one authentic swing and play YOUR game… the game of life!