Making a student a friend

Wednesday, April 23.  Hello from sunny and warm Michigan.  It's been 70 degrees or warmer for almost a week straight now.  It's great but I'm sure we'll go back to reality pretty soon.  I'll enjoy it while it's here though!  Today was another great day.  I found out earlier this morning that the hat company in Sampeng will invest in the molds ($1,500 each style, each size!), if we order at least 200o hats and deposit 20000 baht, returnable upon order.  That keep my costs down and gets me closer to making this a reality!  To think that this started one night when I went to target and bought a fedora for fun a few months ago is unbelievable.  Keep your dreams alive and never give up, and you never know what will happen!

Today I gave five golf lessons and all went very well.  My last one was Howard, who I have taught for many years but haven't seen for over two years.  His wife, who I also teach, told me last fall that he was having a very hard time emotionally because he was losing his job and was having a hard time.  I told her to tell him to come out for a lesson and he finally did.  I left my role as a golf instructor today and really connected with him as a friend today, sharing with him that I have also recently gone through hard times and that things can get better.  I have never really done this and so this is my new thing for the day.

It felt nice to leave the role of professional instructor and try to be his friend.  We are all just humans going through similar struggles and sometimes you can find support from many places.  He is doing much better now and playing golf again and has a better outlook on his future.  But it was nice to be his friend and golf teacher today, and I didn't feel like I was going outside of my duty.  After all, after a while, all of my students are really my friends, especially the long term ones.

And we are all here together really, aren't we.  I guess when I feel like it's important or appropriate, I will not be afraid to reach out and help people.  So long for now, friends.  It is a very exciting time and life feels good.  I hope you all take the opportunity to take advantage of our chance to live life and stretch yourself and have fun!  Enjoy and I'll talk to you tomorrow!  Bye!