Goodbye Asheville. Hello Sunshine and GOLF.

[GordonJ]

Asheville NC is one of my favorite cities. ONE thing I love, the people are happy ( a big generalization, for sure).

But it is a city of artists, musicians and people INVOLVED in life. My friend is an avid Sustainable advocate, in fact, he is Mr. Sustainability and is about to embark on a road trip around the country.

He has put together a multi media presentation, so if your club or organization is looking for an interesting and meaningful presentation, consider Ian Booth. Let me know and I'll make a connection.

His Brother Art was on the submarine with me, in fact, we had tried to get on the SubPac Golf team when we were in Hawaii. Yea, as President John Kennedy said, "life ain't fair when it comes to military service"...

There are guys whose duty it is, is to PLAY GOLF. And we gave it a shot, but neither of us were on our game that day. Imagine HAVING to play golf every day while you served your country???

Anyhow, Art has competed in a Champions Tour event through qualifying, and after watching him play and see his game Today...he shot 4 under on the local Donald Ross course from the far back blue tees...and that was even on the front...and 4 birdies on the tougher back side...

I've helped him decide to pursue his SHOT at becoming an exempt golf pro on one of the Champions Tours...and IF he can do it, at age 64, he'll become the oldest rookie in sports.

Which is sort of our "catch phrase". We're just getting things set up, here is an initial blog about Art's adventure:

www.artboothgolf.blogspot.com

Art is going to FL with me and is going to play on a developmental tour and get as much action and practice in as he can...devoting full time to this quest. It is an almost impossible situation to compete against full time, well equipped, supported and well funded professionals on a have to work to pay the bills part-time basis.

So, after almost a decade OUT of golf, I'm going to get back in the game, that is, I'll be cheering for my old Navy Buddy Art Booth.

Gordon J. Alexander

PS. More to come on my Asheville Adventures. I've met some AMAZING Entrepreneurs who are doing incredible business with their little niches. And many Artists who may not be getting rich, but are doing their art and music with great love and satisfaction and HAPPINESS that no amount of money can buy.

[GordonJ]

Originally Posted by GordonJ

Asheville NC is one of my favorite cities. ONE thing I love, the people are happy ( a big generalization, for sure).

Happy People.

Why not spend your time around them, and even better, BE one of them.

This is just an observation, and my experiences may differ vastly from yours...

But it seems to me people who live happy lives are DOING something they love to do.

It is easy to see in the face of the young woman glass artisan who was telling me about her new kiln. She was so excited because it gave her an opportunity to expand the kind of glass she could work with. She got very detailed about crystalline and all sorts of technical stuff...I just nodded and listened.

By the way, LISTENING goes a long way to learning new things too.

I spoke with almost every busker on the streets of Asheville, and there are dozens at any given day. At the local health food store, Greenlife (now a Whole Foods), there was at least three to four musicians set up outside playing all day long.

They weren't getting rich playing for donations, but they were DOING what they loved to do, sharing their skills and talents with others. And a buck or two tossed into the guitar case or hat was appreciated...and it was a two way street. I appreciated them being there and providing us with great entertainment.

There are many sidewalk cafes in Asheville, and it bustles with activity at night time too. There are a couple of "movie star" celebrities that call Asheville home and it was neat to see these people out of the Hollywood glare and just living a normal life. Ran into them in the store and there was no gawking or staring or intrusion...NO papparazi (except me and my little Kodak) and no TMZ to worry about.

It is a "live and let live" city. Lots of variety. Lots of local color. You'll find good ol boys (them Dukes)...and artisans and "hippies" and, well, just a whole rainbow of people all getting along (for the most part, it is a city after all).

What I liked most is the PACE, it seems less hustle and bustle and more casual, laid back and few appear to be rushing through their lives.

And that is something that has struck me...WHY do so many of us "business" types, especially the type As seem to be hurring and scurrying through life...

Shouldn't business be FUN? I know many successful business people, some well into their 70s who LOVE what they do...and would do it, no matter how much money was being made. They use money as a means of keeping score on themselves...not as a yardstick as to how they measure up to someone else.

LOVE what you do and the money will follow. Well, that sounds good, but there is no actual base for that...much ancedotal evidence can be found here at SowPub.

But, when you love what you do, it doesn't have to be about the money, it is about itself. The life chosen.

The life lived.

There is a saying, when you are dying you think of 3 things:

Did I live?
Did I love?
Did I matter?

Well, having lost two important people in my life recently, I made sure they knew that they DID matter, they were loved and they did indeed live.

If you have a loved going through a crisis, or not far from entering the light, make sure YOU tell them these 3 things. You don't have to stop at these 3 but I assure you, it is a comforting message I believe most would want to hear.

Asheville is a vibrant, exciting city...and so is Lake Worth, where I'm headed next.

Lake Worth has many sidewalk cafes, an interesting mix of interesting people and I look forward to my lunches at Benny's at the beach.

I'm taking back a renewed spirit, a fresh perspective and a new energy which I will be applying to the things that matter to me most.

I'm going to live. Love. And, hopefully, matter.

See you on the beach,

Gordon Jay Alexander