Above Par - Olympic Edition

Chapter 1: Leap of Faith

Felix:

Paris, the city of dreams, they said. The city of love, they said. But for me, it was a city of monotony and heartbreak, where each day blended into the next with numbing regularity. The charming cobblestone streets and quaint cafés that once promised romance and adventure now seemed to mock my solitude, reminding me of the dreams that never materialized and the relationships that faltered. Each morning, I walked the same path to work, past lovers entwined on benches, their laughter ringing through the air—a stark contrast to the emptiness that lingered in my own heart.

It wasn't that Paris was drab—far from it. The city buzzed with life and beauty at every corner, a vibrant tapestry of culture and history. But something about growing up here made it feel like there was nothing for me. I'd seen it all, every nook and cranny, every café and art exhibit, and yet, none of it seemed to hold the promise of anything new or exciting. I often wondered if the city had more to offer, or if it was simply that I'd outgrown it—or perhaps it had outgrown me.

Or maybe it was because I'd wake up each and every day now with everything blending together as the same. Same boring passive life, same boring job. My days felt like they were on repeat: get up, go to work, come home, sleep, and start all over again. The sense of routine was comforting at times, but mostly it was stifling. I craved something more, something that would shake me out of this rut and make me feel alive again.

But I'm terrible with taking risks. The thought of stepping outside my comfort zone filled me with anxiety, the fear of the unknown keeping me firmly rooted in place. I had always admired those who could leap into the unknown with courage and confidence, but for me, even the smallest change felt daunting. What if it all went wrong? What if I lost what little stability I had? The "what-ifs" kept me tethered to my safe, predictable life, even as it slowly suffocated me.

My alarm buzzed at six a.m. sharp, a relentless reminder that it was time to drag myself out of bed and face another day in my drab, uninspiring office job. I trudged through the morning routine, fueled by little more than espresso and a vague hope that maybe today would be different. But deep down, I knew it wouldn't be.

My job was stable, predictable, and utterly devoid of excitement. I spent my days surrounded by numbers, trapped in spreadsheets, and pushing papers that seemed to multiply overnight. It was safe, secure, but it felt like a slow death by routine. My parents were proud, of course—my mother never tired of telling her friends about my "successful career in finance"—but I couldn't help feeling there was more to life than this.

"Bonjour, Monsieur Bourgeois! Another espresso?" The barista behind the counter at my favorite café knew my order by heart. I nodded, offering a tired smile as she placed the steaming cup before me. It had become a ritual, my morning pit stop before the soul-crushing commute to the office. As I sipped the rich, bitter liquid, I caught a glimpse of myself in the café's window. I saw a man going through the motions, yearning for something more but too afraid to take the leap.

Enter Ilona, my best friend and self-appointed life coach. She was everything I wasn't—fearless, spontaneous, and utterly convinced that life was an adventure waiting to happen. Her voice rang in my ears: You deserve more, Felix. Take a risk. I'd heard her mantra so often it was practically a soundtrack to my life, but each time I considered it, the practical side of me won out. Rent didn't pay itself, and my safety net was thin enough as it was.

Today, however, was different. An email from Ilona arrived with a subject line that demanded my attention: Exciting Opportunity! I opened it, curious despite myself. Her message was a whirlwind of enthusiasm and urgency, detailing how she'd managed to get me an interview for a caddy position at the upcoming Olympics in Paris. I laughed out loud—golf caddy? Really? It sounded like something out of a dream, or perhaps a nightmare, depending on how you looked at it.