Give Tiger a Break!

As the sportscaster reported on Tiger's failure to make it into the US Open this weekend, he seemed to be surprised. Shocked in fact.

Hello! Tiger's father died of cancer just 9 short weeks ago. He hasn't played since then.

And the world expects him to perform at his peak!?

I remember how I felt 9 weeks after my father died...and I can tell you I wasn't at my best. Heck, I was just barely able to go through the motions to get to work, make my meals, and take care of myself.

I felt numb. I couldn't think clearly. I wasn't able to focus. The emotions of grief rolled through me at the most unexpected times. I can't imagine trying to be at my best during those months.

Descriptions of Tiger's performance today give us a glimpse at how our culture handles death and grief. There's an underlying assumption that people can jump right back into action after a loved one dies.

They can take actions...but realistically speaking those actions aren't likely to be effective, focused, or clear for some time. The truth is, grieving takes time...it's a journey of healing and adjusting to the loss of a loved one. Some days are good, other days not so good.

The key is to have compassion for those who are grieving. Know that in time, they will come back. There's just no way to predict when that time will come.

How did you feel 9 weeks after your loved one died? Make a comment below...let's help others see that they aren't alone in feeling disconnected and off balance.