Do you play golf?
Me, I’ve tried a couple times but it’s always the same: I lace up some stained sneakers, borrow rusty clubs from someone’s basement, and then scrounge around the parking lot for some dented balls for my once-a-decade tee shot.
Now, I’ve mentioned my athletic abilities before so you’ll understand why I love that golf rule which lets me call a mulligan. Have you heard of it? Basically, I swing and miss the ball a dozen times before eventually shanking it dead sideways into the dense forest.
But then I just yell MULLIGANNNNN! really loudly and everyone lets me try again.
It’s a great rule and it got me thinking: We should be able to call mulligans anywhere. Because hear me out.
What if you could call a mulligan on your driving test? Yes, after tire-punching the curb and hitting Grandma’s shopping cart you just drop the m-word and start again. Or how about calling a mulligan after an awkward side hug in the airport? Or after accidentally spitting a tiny piece of food on your date’s face?
It’s starting to sound good, am I right?
Now, my old college friend Mike is the master. See, he’s perfected the beautifully indulgent Weekend Mulligan. He often gets up and groggily stumbles around the kitchen, spills coffee grinds on the floor, and accidentally steps on the cat. But then he stares at his dark, hollow eyes in the mirror and realizes he woke up too soon.
That’s when he just calls a mulligan on the day and goes back to bed with a plan to give it another shot a few hours later.
People, life’s too short not to sleep when you feel like it. So take a page from our book and when your first couple shots land in the rough, just yell mulligan and start again.
AWESOME!
— Email message —
“Yesterday, a mysterious package showed up at my apartment. I opened the box, and there it was:The Book of Awesome! The label said my mother had ordered it for me (I go to college three hours from home). I called her to thank her then asked how she knew I’d wanted the book! She said she saw a link I posted on Facebook and thought it would be a nice surprise! So there’s another awesome thing for the list: Small surprises that show how much someone cares.
This gift reminded me that even though my mom and I have disagreements she loves me so much more than I could ever fathom. Your site and book are so lovely — sometimes we get so wrapped up in our own personal crises that we forget to remember the small miracles that make up the beautiful world we live in. Thanks for reminding us every day. Keep the awesome alive!” – Kelly from Virginia
