Exhale.
I lost at fantasy. Pretty badly, actually. It points to a larger question of expectation and effort, as described before. What is it I am putting my time and energy into? What am I expecting from the areas and in my life I am not putting as much time and energy into? When I step back and really analyze it, the most consistent and time consuming task I endeavor outside of sleep is Video Games. I play more than I work! I play Starfield daily, I play Pokemon daily (heck hourly on some days) and when given the freedom of moments, I lose myself in the wonder of Madden Franchise. In truth, I am writing this blog on the plane on the way home with every intention of playing Madden or Starfield (already did hecka Pokemon, but who knows?) at some point this evening. Nearly 50 yrs into my life and the work/play balance has not sorted itself out.
It won’t sort itself out on its own, so do I have the willpower to do that myself? I have to. If not for me, for the next generation. Our youngest has his head in a phone or a game most hours of the day. He doesn’t take the time to workout or stretch on his own. He isn’t grinding when he could be, thereby bettering himself in preparation for the way of life he claims to want to live. You cannot be an NFL player and not put in more work than everyone around you. So, it is up to me to set an example.
I used to say ‘nobody can out work me.’ Turns out everybody outworks me. What I’ve been good at is living off my talent. Unfortunately I’m too old and worn out for that to work out any longer. Examples need to be set and balance needs to be achieved before it is too late for me to be good to anyone still.
So, what does that mean physically? I don’t know specifics. I know I am going to start stretching and doing home workouts tomorrow. I am going to put serious time into the project I need to get done by Friday. I’m going to start research for another project as well—30 minutes a day on that one. I am going to build out a schedule that makes sense and is flexible enough that I can do it over the vacation and not set myself up for failure.
And yes, I am still going to play games. Just maybe not so much.