Life stories have the power to inspire us (Case 2)

Tiger Woods teaches us to never give up

By Dr. Ely Lazar & Dr. Adele Thomas

[Republished here by permission of the authors from their “Lifestyle Tips for Over 50s,” affiliated with their website “Passionate Retirees,” September 27, 2018.]

On Sunday, September 23, Tiger Woods produced a remarkable achievement. He won his first golf tournament in over five years, beating out the top golfers in the world. What makes the victory remarkable was that in 2017, it looked like his golfing career was over.
    One thing that is obvious is that Woods has changed. He is no longer the brash, no-holds-barred striker of the ball, and appears to be at peace with himself. For several years his life was in turmoil. We all know about his sexual affairs, the breakup of his marriage, and his debilitating back pain. He underwent three discectomies (removal of spinal disc material) but still had trouble sitting and walking, let alone playing golf. A side effect was that he became drug dependent and even got arrested for driving under the influence. His final resort was a spinal fusion operation at the base of his spine, which turned out to be a resounding success.
    Tiger Woods had it all: fame, a fortune in the hundreds of millions, and recognition as the best golfer in the world. And yet, his life had spiraled out of control. I remember that the great Jack Nicklaus was interviewed in 2016, and he stated that Tiger would be back. It seemed improbable, but Nicklaus was indeed correct. Through perseverance and extensive rehab, he was swinging a golf club again in late 2017. We need to remember that at age 42, a golfer is not in his or her prime, which makes the Woods comeback even more remarkable.

The Woods story is about not giving up and refusing to lose. That’s a message we can all adopt. If we relate this to ageing, as individuals get older, they often use their age as an excuse to give up. This is compounded when others tell seniors that they are “too old.” Ageism does a great disservice to older people. It is essential to encourage people to find their passion and to go for it. Here are a few examples:

1. Harriette Thompson, age 91, from Charlotte, North Carolina, completed her first marathon at age 76, despite being a cancer survivor.
2. George Hewson, a medical doctor, retired at age 66. He developed a passion for skiing and became a certified ski instructor in Colorado.
3. Anna Robertson Moses took up painting at age 77, and her new career spanned 24 years, with over 1,500 canvases in her collection.
4. Laura Ingalls Wilder, at the age of 64, published her first book, Little House in the Big Woods. She went on to a long writing career, and her books inspired the TV show, Little House on the Prairie.

    None of these individuals had a special talent, but they found something that they loved doing and developed the skill. What is it that you love to do? We all have some hidden gems in the recesses of our mind. Sometimes we just need a swift kick in the butt, or, as Cher said in the movie, Moonstruck, “Snap out of it.”
    So, what are you waiting for?

Copyright © 2018 by Dr. Ely Lazar & Dr. Adele Thomas