You know the ant and the grasshopper story. The kids who hung out on the street, while others toiled away doing their homework, projects, or learning one skill really well.
Now we are adults, and those of us who have mastered something have it to lean on, to earn with, and to satisfy our deep need to be important and feel we are really good at something.
That mastery didn’t come by having fun all the time, constantly engaged in activities that were stress relieving and entertaining. It came by self-discipline and hard work. Were we having fun? Not the kind of fun everyone else was having. We were not having fun most of the time as we labored and focused, so we may get a feeling of satisfaction that we had just taken a new step towards mastery. The feeling was fleeting, but enough of its own reward. We moved on to ascending the next step right away – seeking the feeling again.
In the end, we will have reached a greater portion of our potential than we would otherwise; and maybe that’s the most fun of all.
Excellent thought to start the day (and anytime for that matter). Just listened to “Masterpiece” for the first time this weekend – outstanding. On my second time through already. Love it!
I read that it takes 10,000 hours of practice to become masterful at something. Think Itzac Perlman, Hank Aaron, and
Mark Spitz. Lots of practice to be sure.
Very well said! When I think back when I was young, I can now see who “did the work”