Paxton J., Incarnation Catholic School
"Stuck"
“Ladies and gentlemen, can I have your attention? Due to inclement weather the flight to Cincinnati, Ohio has been delayed.” This announcement, dreaded by airport travelers, was the last thing I wanted to hear. The sounds of moans and groans filled the air. I was no different and joined the discordant chorus of groans. My dad, sister, and I walked over to the departure board to check our new flight time. Five hours later! We would be “stuck” there for five hours? My head and shoulders dropped, and a feeling of despair rushed through my body. It was going to be miserable. When I looked at my dad, instead of being angry or upset, he was smiling. He turned to my sister and me and said, “Let’s get out of here and have some fun!” We left the airport and headed to downtown Baltimore. We ate at Hard Rock Café, shopped, saw Camden Yards, home of the Baltimore Orioles, and visited the Chesapeake Bay Pier. On the way back to the airport, I realized the five hours I dreaded turned out to be one of the best parts of the trip. Through my dad’s positivity and motivation, we made the best of the situation.
Over the years, my dad has taught me how to stay positive and make the best of my time. Thanks to him I have become a better person, and I hope I have been able to influence other people’s attitudes like he has done for me. This is especially true when I think about my time on the golf course. Golf is a sport that is a roller coaster of emotions. It''s a great sport because every hole is a new hole just like every day is a new day. The last hole is in the past, the next hole is in the future, and the hole you are playing is in the present. You must do your best in the moment.
In one particular golf scramble, I hit my golf ball into the water on the first tee box. Instead of letting my emotions take over, I kept my dad’s words in mind and picked myself up. I needed to be a good model for my teammate who was younger than me. We did well, but the real reason to celebrate was that I stayed positive. To be honest, I normally let my head and shoulders drop when things don’t go as planned. Over the years I have gotten better at staying positive, but there is still room to improve.
At the end of the day, we need to remember to have a positive attitude and live life to its fullest. Make the best of every moment not only for yourself, but for those around you. Even if you think you are “stuck” (like I thought we were at the airport), keep a positive attitude and see life as an opportunity waiting to happen.
