When was the last time you learned something new, not related to your job? For me it is somewhat of head-scratcher why people do not want to constantly be learning new things. Sometimes I think it’s because people feel that if they are not the best at something or even really good, it’s not worth doing at all. And when you take-up something new, typically it takes hard work and time to get good at new interests. I learned a long time ago that I will never ever be “the best” at anything. Someone will always be better than me in everything I do. I’ll never be the best cook, painter, piano player, runner, pickleball player, blogger, friend, or even mom. There will always be someone better. This discovery has been rather humbling for me. It has made me very open and willing to try and learn new things.
When I was a freshman in high school, my soon to be first real basketball coach, Vicky Johnson convinced me to try out for the women ‘s varsity team, only because I was tall. Because I certainly was not a good player (I actually was a terrible player). Coach Johnson taught me many invaluable life-lessons over the next four years. (Yes I actually made the team?) That year I was the worst player on a state championship team, but I was still a champion. Like I said, Coach Johnson taught me many life-lessons, which I will write about in a later blog. But the lesson I want to share in this blog is the value of really really hard work. I practiced two hours every day with the team, stayed after practice to run more drills, and then went home and practiced with my brother and father in our driveway on nights and weekends. By the time a graduated high school I was the team’s MVP and written up in the local papers as one of the top 50 women’s athletic college recruits in the state of Florida. But there was always someone better.
Many of you may know that about three years ago I began playing pickleball, basically the same story as my basketball story. I started out terrible, and now three years later I dare to say my game is actually pretty good. During the first three years I took about six lessons, and played about 10-15 hours per week. That’s a lot of pickleball! And a lot of hard work and discipline. But walking out on that court for the first time was really scary. And again there will always be someone better.
Over the past year I began throwing pottery. Yes, like you saw in the movie Ghost with the pottery wheel. Let me tell you, also very scary. Also very messy and not as sexy as Demi Moore and Patrick Swayze made it look in the movie. My initial pieces looked like something made in a kindergarten class or they did not come out at all, just collapsing in on themselves. But dare I say, I am getting the hang of it. I am sure if I spent less time on the pickleball court, my pottery would look much better. But there will always be someone better.
Now what? Well I am learning calligraphy. I am committing to 20 minutes a day to my practice, at least until I am allowed to actually start writing the alphabet. Yes, what I have learned is the only way to get good at calligraphy is time and practice. I’ve learned this to be true with playing the piano, painting with watercolors, playing volleyball, photography and just about every other interest I have tried over the years.
So what is my message. Do not be afraid to try new things. But if you want to be good at them it will typically require a lot of time and hard work. And accept the fact you will never be the best. Maybe the reason people do not often try new things is they are actually afraid of the time commitment or the hard work? But take it from me, my life overflows with quality and happiness because I am always willing to learn and try new things. So don’t be scared, go out and give it a try . . .