I have always been a person that doesn’t stick with one hobby for very long. I enjoy trying new things, whether it’s lock picking, magic tricks, skateboarding, or yoga. Before I start learning how to do these things, I look up how to do them. When I do, I see people who can do these things a whole lot better than I can, and it’s hard to not be discouraged.
I’ve always liked the expression, “Jack of all trades, Master of none,”. Sometimes, it’s how I feel about myself. However, at my Tae Kwon Do classes, my teacher prefers the phrase, “Jack of all trades, Master of one”. To me, that means that you have multiple hobbies that you enjoy doing, and are good at, but there is one particular activity that you are most passionate about. For me, my “master” is writing. I love writing, and strive to write something every day. My “jacks” include everything from cooking, to piano, to gymnastic flips that I’m really not that great at.
With most of these “jacks”, I don’t expect to be an expert at the activity. However, I do want to succeed, and do fairly well at it. The problem is, when I’m looking up exactly how to do these things, I run across people for whom the activity is their “master”. Watching them shows me how to do the activity, but it also causes me to subconsciously set impossibly high standards for myself. Then, when I actually attempt it, I feel disappointed with myself that I didn’t do better.
For Christmas this year, my siblings and I got a Ripstick. Basically, it’s a cross between a scooter and a skateboard. With only two wheels, one in front and one in back, and no handles, you have to make an odd, snake like motion with your feet to move. Then balance comes into play. It’s not that hard once you get the hang of it…but getting the hang of it can be challenging. When we watched a video on YouTube of how to ride it, the riders made it look so easy. Then, we went outside and tried it, and discovered that it wasn’t as simple as they made it appear.
The first day I tried it out, I needed someone to stand by to help me keep balance, while I began to figure out the foot movements. The second day, I was able to kick off, and glide for a few feet, while I attempted the foot movements. By the third day, I was actually doing it correctly, and managed to ride and keep my balance…for about five feet. However, the next day it was fifteen feet, and the day after that, thirty feet.
Like everything in life, there has to be a starting point. You can’t begin a race halfway through the course, and you can’t understand a school lesson completely if you don’t start at the beginning. Sometimes, you have to start at the bottom and work your way up. If you’re starting something, remember that it won’t be as easy as some people make it look. However, also keep in mind that if you have determination, and the willpower to keep at it, you can make it one of your “jacks”. Or, who knows? Maybe it will even become your “master”. See you next week!
“Reprinted from Hagel Publications, Inc. dba as Courier Newspapers”