Beauty is "truly" in the Eye of the Beholder?

Okay, quick...what do you think of when you hear this cliche?

I admit it, I think of females. I probably have heard this cliche muttered a thousand times in my life and yet every time I hear it, I think of outward appearance vs. inward. Basically what the person mutters it is trying to convey is that, "Ugly things can be beautiful too."

However, over the weekend, I have finally come to understand the true meaning of what this cliche means.

The PGA Tour plays 4 Majors every year. Basically 4 tournaments that are BIGGER than the rest. They are considered golf's "holy grail." If you play in at least one throughout your career, you are da man. If you win one, well then...you are really da man. And if you happen to win more than one, then you are approaching god status. (Tiger has won 14 of them, so what does that make him?)

However, most of us don't even get the opportunity to attend a Major, much less play in one. For whatever reason be it money, time, location, etc. we just don't make it a priority to buy a ticket and attend the event. We think to ourselves, "I can watch it on TV, I don't have time anyway, it's too expensive, I don't want to battle the crowds, etc."

After this weekend, I'll never make that mistake again!

But here's the point to my whole post. I went on Saturday because the U.S. Open was being played down in Torrey Pines for the first time ever. San Diego is about an hour away and my dad (being the greatest dad in the world) bought tickets. I got there around 11 am but due to having to be back by 5 pm, I had to leave earlier than I wanted. I walked around, followed a few players (Mickelson and Scott), sat on hole #1 and watched others tee off, bought some souvenirs, and then headed home.

It was fun but I was disappointed. Disappointed that I had to leave early. Disappointed that I missed my friends and our rendezvous time. Disappointed that I didn't get to see Tiger. And basically thinking, "This was kinda a waste of time and money."

I then talked to my friends that night on the phone who were also there. They had driven a long distance and were basically there all day. One of my friends saw almost every shot Tiger hit and he told me, "I basically sprinted 18 holes today Dro but it was the greatest sporting event I have ever attended." My other friend then told me, "Dude, we were right next to the 13th green when Tiger drained his 60 footer for eagle. It was so awesome to be there!"

Okay, refer back to the title of this post and maybe you can see where I am going. How many times in your life have you seen the "ugly" while others have seen the "beauty?" How many times have you muttered, "this sucks" while others have said, "this rocks?" How many people have you met and came away thinking, "he or she's a jerk" while someone else thinks "he or she's da bomb?" How about when you visit some place or move somewhere and say to everyone who will listen, "there's nothing to do here" while those same people are thinking, "this is the greatest city in the world."

After talking to my friends on Saturday night, I thought about this the whole day Sunday and was internally struggling with this concept. I was bummed but then all of a sudden....I had an "AH HA" moment. You know those times when you finally understand something. When you finally just "get it" and want to jump in high in air and scream..... "AH HA!"

You see, I realize that I BLEW IT. It was all me. I had a chance to make something ordinary....extraordinary. I had a chance to attend the US Open and make it a memorable experience and yet, I didn't. Sure it was fun to follow the players and watch them play but I could've, "sprinted 18 holes." I could've, "watched Tiger drain a 60 foot eagle." It could've been, "the greatest sporting event I have ever attended" and yet I BLEW IT.

How many times have we "blown it" in our lives? How many times have we had the opportunity to get to know a person, a city, a ward, a school, an event, etc. and yet meandered around, feeling sorry for ourselves, and muttering, "This sucks. I wish I was.....(fill in the blank)."

Beauty is "truly" in the Eye of the Beholder. You see, life's experiences are what make us who we are. We are the ones that create those experiences. We are the ones that can shape those people, cities, wards, schools, and events to how we want them to be. Sure, everything can "suck" in life but everything can also be the "GREATEST.....(fill in the blank)."

Okay...end of the story. Most of the time we don't get a second chance in life. Most of the time after we have our "AH HA" moment, we don't get to go back; we just have to learn our lesson and move on. BUT, as is the joke with my friends and family, I once again got the "lucky bounce."

On Sunday, Tiger Woods made a birdie on 18 to force an 18 hole playoff to be played on Monday the next day. As the putt goes in the hole, my dad turns to me and says, "You know, we have four tickets for tomorrow's round. Maybe you should go." (You could say that my reaction was similar to the picture below).

I could not believe my ears. I could not believe what I was hearing. I had an immediate chance to make up for my mistake and make this event "AWESOME!" I immediately called in sick for work. I made plans to get there early and stay there late. And then my brother (Jeff) and my brother-in-law (Cort) headed down to San Diego at 6:30 am the next morning.

To make a long story short....I sprinted here and there. I stood right next to tee boxes and talked to the players. The Greek God (Tiger Woods) stood right next to me. I sat in the stands and yelled "Get in the hole." I told Rocco Mediate that he "had Tiger right where he wanted him" and Rocco looked at me and said, "Yea right. I got him right where I want him?" I snuck my way onto a platform (high above the crowd) and watched Tiger birdie 18 once again. I not only was there...BUT, I "experienced" the US Open and it was (in my eyes), truly....."BEAUTIFUL!!!!!"