Summer 2010 Thus Far

My summer this year has been inconsistent, to say the least. My last day of my freshmen year at Appalachian State University was May 3, and I hit the ground running once I got home. I was waking up at 6 in the morning, studying the Bible for about 30 minutes, doing a cardio workout or riding bike until 7:00, hitting Maple Leaf GC at 7:30, playing 18, eating lunch at home, playing another 18, then resting and reading John Piper until crashing in bed around 10:00. That lasted about two weeks. I hit the hardest proverbial brick wall I think I've ever hit. I suddenly had no desire to play golf, read the Bible or read anything for that matter, lost my appetite, and couldn't sleep. I got to the point where I shot an 80 and a 78 back-to-back. On the outside I was very cheery and happy, but on the inside I was nearly desireless and passionless. I sought wise counsel from Kim (my male friend at Maple Leaf) and Stephanie (my female friend whom I graduated high school with) on the matter. They both prescribed a hiatus from golf. Both gave great examples of taking a long break from the thing they loved and testified to the vigor and drive that they came back with after the leave. So I tried it. I went two days with no golf. The days were very relaxing, but two days wasn't enough. I tried playing the next day after the short two-day layoff, and I played decent, but I didn't enjoy myself at all. So I went two more days of no golf, and by the end of those I was itching to play. I went back the first time and shot a 70 at Maple Leaf and have only shot one or two rounds over-par since then, and it's been about three weeks. So the break was uber-profitable. So what I would take out of this post as a reader is to never be afraid of taking a break from the things you love. You are capable of getting burnt out. I thought I would never get burnt out, but it came out of nowhere and slapped me in the face like a brick in a tornado. So take a break and refresh the desire and passion for greatness.