How many of you have mastered something that you love to do? Did you decide one day that you wanted to do it and then excelled at it on the first try? The second or third try? I doubt it. You know where I am going with this. To achieve excellence at something you have to work at it, practice, put in the time. Oh, that’s so tedious! you say. It’s hard. I don’t have time for all the practice.
I said a few of these words the other day to my trainer. I was desperately looking for a proper excuse (one that she would accept) as to why I don’t ride more often. I’m stuck in this one area of my riding ability and I can’t get past it. To let her know that it mattered to me, I said, “What do I need to do to fix this?” I expected an exercise, something I could do during a lesson or even practice at home. That would have been very convenient and wouldn’t disrupt my busy days. I wasn’t looking for nor did I particularly want the answer I got. “You need to ride more. You need to practice when you are not having a lesson. If you want to get better at something, you need to put in the time!” My heart sank. “Crap,” I said inaudibly. I knew she was right. I walked right into that one. I have heard it a million times when someone else was the subject of the advice, not me!
The other thing is that I am not 35 anymore. I’m older now. I don’t have the energy I used to have. When I go to the barn for a lesson, I come home pretty much exhausted. On days that I have three or more errands to run, I am completely wiped out.
Do you feel sorry for me yet? You shouldn’t. I shouldn’t. My trainer was 100% correct. She is the best, after all. I’ve been with her for 5+ years. I can take her advice to the bank, every time.
And so I got up extra early yesterday morning so that I could get to the barn for an early ride, leave there by 11:15 to drive to Orange County for a 12:15 appointment and then grocery shop followed by driving home to get ready for a dinner with friends in San Marcos. Ugh! (Did I mention that I hate to get up early?)
Put the time in. If there is anything you want to get better at, improve on, excel at, you have no choice. The bonus is elevated self-esteem and self-confidence which grow exponentially the more you practice.
With very few exceptions, no one can achieve perfection at something without putting in the time. Check back with me in a few months. I’ll let you know how it’s going! :))
Sarah honey, you don’t know from old yet! 😉
I was 58 when I got my Open Water certification, in Belize; I was a month away — in May from my 73rd when I get my second chance to take a dive vacation, this time in Bonaire (50 miles north of Venezuela). I realized I was not 58 anymore and didn’t have that kind of energy (you DO know I’m messing with you here?) anymore. But yes, it takes time, and proximity I might add. I live in the mountains of western NC, and as for time, well, who knows? Sure, I had to have a refresher dive — then a Remedial follow-up, then a ‘test drive of sorts before even letting me get on the dive boat! (Understandable) but while a had one shell of a time getting up the boat ladder after, I was Damn proud to swim like that fish — at some depth of 60 feet. But yes, taking the time to learn I’d key. I know this b/c I spent 70 of those years in and out of the water. Keep on keeping on, kid, and you’ll get it.
Good post!
Hattie. aka Harriet