Are You Whining Or Bowling?

As we were completing one of our leagues, one of the guys went into a tirade about the lane conditions.

You know, the usual complaints about leaving so many 10 pins, and how his scores "should-a, would-a, could-a" been much higher.

And, as always, all of us pretty much ignored him and didn't say a word.

A very memorable comment, however, was made by the wife of another bowler.

It summed up everything that could be said about any complaining, by any bowler, at any time.

She said, "What is he whining about? You know, Choc, nobody ever lives long enough to cry and whine about a simple game."

I could only nod my head and agree with the wisdom of those words.

Life is too short for us to spend it feeling frustrated and stressed out because we shot a low game or low series.

Or that we should have shot a higher game or series if it wasn't for leaving so many single pins.

I believe we will one day look back on our lives and reflect on why we wasted so many days feeling bad, being angry, or complaining.

Whether it's early in their life (lucky for them), later in their life, or at the end of their life, everyone will realize the futility of those wasted moments.

As my "Choc-List" for these situations goes:

1) Accept the fact that you are not always going to bowl perfectly.

That's why we have an "average" and game is called "bowling" and not "striking." 

How boring would the game be if you (and everybody's) "average" was 300?

2) Leaving 10 pins are part of the game.

Watch the PBA Tour and then observe what is happening at the local bowling center - we all leave ten pins, sometimes as many as half-a-dozen or more.

As Marshall Holman so aptly put it, "In the modern sport of bowling, there are two types of spares - the 10 pin and the rest of them."

3) As you are complaining, take a long look around and see how many people are actually listening.

Oh, they may be nodding their heads or smiling, but, how many of them are really hearing what you say.

Does it really matter?

4) Sit down, close your eyes, and take three deep breaths. Relax. Breathe in deeply through your nose, filling your stomach and lungs as much as you can.

Hold it in for a few seconds. Exhale through your mouth. Relax.

Think about what Confucius said, "It is better to keep silent and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt."