#PositiveVibes - Pin Tipping

by John R. Nocero

The VIBE: Do something that you enjoy. Even if no one is watching.

My wife and I went bowling yesterday. We just took up the hobby a week or so ago and decided to go again yesterday. We had a ton of fun! Usually we take our “sporting” outings very seriously, but yesterday, we just went and had a good time. I shot really well, which was secondary to the time itself. I am thinking I shot really well because I was so calm and enjoying the moment. In between frames, it really made me stop and think about my bowling experiences. I enjoy individual sports like this very much – I started to bowl when I was about 8 or 9 back in NY. Both my parents were bowlers. They bowled in a league on Thursday nights together, so we always had a babysitter who would come over and we would have oven-baked pizza, make brownies, or stay up too late and watch inappropriate television programs. When I got older, I would accompany my parents to the lanes and while they bowled, I would go to the arcade and play Pac-Man or sit at the bar and enjoy chicken wings. Wings always taste better at the lanes. They just do – I don’t know if there is something with the bowling alley fryer or the sauce, but man! So good. I have made a lot of good friends through bowling and even my go back at join a league at some point, or at least sub.

What I also noticed, is that it is something that I can do myself. I am always looking for things like this to do when my wife leaves for the weekends. Her parents live near Pittsburgh, so she goes back probably two weekends of every month and sees them, with her nieces and nephews. I stay back and take care of the dog and get in some quality John time. I just hate the car ride. It’s at least 10 hours both ways and just too long to sit anymore. But I digress. I don’t need a ton of people to bowl, just me, the ball, a quality oil pattern, my resin, some pins and if I am really lucky, the wrist thing so I don’t turn my hand over. I have added it to the checklist of “Things to do that John enjoys when Kel leaves.” Yes, this is a real list.

 My wish for everyone reading this is you can develop your own list too. Maybe you want to do something but no one is around to go. Try a new restaurant. See Creed II. Or go get gelato. What most people do next is the habit you need to break. People stay at home. They choose to not do anything because they don’t have a companion. But, dude, no one is stopping you. So go do what you want to do. So what people may see you out alone – what’s gonna happen, they will see you out alone, being, I don’t know, happy about what you are doing. Or you are just inventing that anyway. Most people are not paying attention.

 I love doing things with Kel. I also love doing things with my friends. But when either are not around, I won’t just throw everything else down the drain. Not anymore. I hope you catch me being happy on my own. Enjoying myself. For me. If I can’t something for me when I want to do it, can I be expected to something when I have responsibilities?

 Remember the person who should be most excited for everything is you. It starts with bowling. But it is not where it stops.

 Please remember to like and share ;)