Deceptively Simple and Endlessly Complicated
Arnold Palmer is one of the people most consider an authority on the game of golf. It’s almost like he had over 60 wins in the major professional games he played. When Arnold was asked about the game, he stated that “golf is deceptively simple and endlessly complicated.” I’ve attempted to play golf a few times (the actual game, though I do have to admit I rock a course with a windmill) and I get that. This game of leisure seems to be a lot of practice/work, throwing of clubs in frustration and the most simple of rules…starting from a tee, get the little white ball into the hole by hitting it.
That pretty much sums up the game of life for guys and girls, unfortunately in that particular
order. It seems since the 1960′s there’s been a disproportionate gap growing between the sexes and how they view their happiness. There’s some obvious societal changes to take into account that have added to this phenomenon, most notably women feeling compelled to excel and achieve in every aspect of their lives – home, career, friendships, relationships, etc.
This is most definitely NOT to say that men don’t want to be successful in all the corners of their lives as well. In fact, the pressure for them to be both provider and nurturer, lover and critic, masculine and yet in touch with their feminine side, is intense. Poor guys, no matter which side of the fence they tend to fall on, it never seems to be right.
But ladies, here’s a secret (the first of many) to the male psyche: Men have learned not to sweat all the small stuff.
Some might argue that there’s something happening in all the grey and white matter bouncing around our heads. Scientifically, there seems to be evidence that our approaches to any situation are vastly different. For girls, we approach things relationally. When faced with a problem (from choosing a job offer to a new shade of lip gloss) girls need to look at all sides of the issue, talk it out with trusted confidants, and decide how it will affect them/their family/the greater good, etc. There’s a whole bunch of shoulda, coulda, woulda’s and after a lot of drama and stress we’re exhausted but finally at our solution.
For guys, the process is a little different. When they are faced with a problem, they immediately analyze and work for a solution. Like an algebraic equation, X + Y must always equal Z, and they are focused on getting to Z as easily and efficiently as possible. Without the long drawn out conversations over cosmos and tearful reviews of the facts, guys have enough time to get to their solution, grab a beer, catch a game/show, change into sweatpants and curl up on the couch Al Bundy style to greet you when you get home.
I gotta admit, for most of my problems, I’m an X + Y = Z person. Maybe I didn’t get enough white brain matter when my genetics were distributed. I still have my moments, though. Times when I’m standing at the top of the staircase in my townhouse analyzing a recent date with my sister/roomie trying to determine based on the mere perceived inflection of a conversation if he just might be into me enough. Yep, there were tears…followed by chocolate cake.
Guys really have the upper hand on this one. When the small stuff matters they’ll sweat it, otherwise the perspiration-free life is much more appealing. And girls, I’ll leave it to the famous words of Ms. Mary J Blige – No More Drama in My Life.
How about you – do you sweat the small stuff too much sometimes?
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