Phil Mickelson's Victory

I like Phil Mickelson.

I was rooting for him to win the Masters yesterday. As I watched I noticed the pink ribbon on his hat raising breast cancer awareness. See, Mickelson's wife and his mother both have breast cancer. There were diagnosed 6 weeks apart last summer.

Phil's wife Amy made the trip with him to Georgia, but rested at their rented home for the first three days of the tournament. But on Sunday, as her husband grabbed control of the leader board, Amy was waiting just off the 18th green.

Poetically, Mickelson birdied the 18th hole, and after hugs and handshakes with the other player and caddies, Phil made his way to Amy. It was there in the extended hug, that Phil Mickelson cried.

Winning the Masters was one thing. Having Amy there to see it was something completely different.

In the book that I'm currently writing, I talk about how guys often grow up wanting to be a sports hero, but how important it is to be a hero at home too. As this year's Masters champion held his wife after his victory, the tear running down his cheek really put it all in perspective.

What we think is important pales in comparison to nurturing the relationship with your partner. Whatever you do, please - keep the proper perspective.

Stay in touch -

Mark

Proper Perspective

If we were talking about cars, boats, motor cycles, lawn mowers - or any other mechanical device – we would understand about proper maintenance and how important it is to take care of “her”.

If we were talking about sports, we would understand that it is necessary to work out, to be in shape, to practice and that is necessary to execute a game plan or to build a team that brings about championships.

If we were talking about our careers, it would be clear that we are expected to “show up” every day. We would likely understand our weaknesses and work hard (possibly even take courses) to overcome them.

But when it comes to women, we act as if a veil has been pulled over our eyes and that we are plagued by a mystery is worthy of the DaVinci Code. Maybe we complicate it too much – or maybe we just don’t know how to go about executing the game plan.

Like equipment, sports and careers our relationships need maintenance, we need to work out emotionally and practice, and we need to show up every day and work on our weaknesses. Why would we give less attention to our relationships than we do everything else in our life?

Stay in touch -

Mark