Blog: Sunset Sundays

I have spent the last 24 Sunday evenings on a golf course. I have not been swinging clubs, driving carts, or caddying: I have been watching the sunset. At least one new guest accompanies me every week. These guests range from classmates to neighbors, from children to senior citizens. Every guest and every sunset are different. There are no repeats or do-overs. The only thing that remains constant is the bench my guest and I sit on and the fifteen-minute arrival period before the sunset time printed on the newspaper every Sunday.

People change on the golf course; they enter a raw and relaxed state. One week I heard about a student’s hatred of the school during his freshman year and the next week I learned about the downfall of a straight-A student due to depression. I discover more about human nature on the bench near the seventh hole than I ever could have imagined. I get to find out what issues people have and what drives them to act and speak out. No matter what I pursue in life, I know that the experiences that I’ve had on the golf course will come back to help me. I will be able to carry not only the lessons that I have learned in my life, but also the lessons that have been passed on to me from my “Sunset Sunday” companions.

When it comes down to it, the sunsets are all about reflection; taking a step back in my busy life is crucial. For at least one hour a week, I know that my mind has a chance to slow down and reconnect with people on a more basic level. Today’s world doesn’t provide a time for its citizens to look back, only time to look forward. Sunset Sundays are my respite, my escape.