I had occasion for several deep reflective moments between last night and today. We were all spread across the balcony looking at the mountains and wondering how to spend the next few days. The kids are convinced I should get a 3ds and join them in all of their crazy gaming. I’m convinced I need to work out a realistic set of gaming hours (Post run and read in the mornings and 4-7:30 in the evenings). I don’t do a very good job about being assertive about the time I spend. I allow myself to drift and shave away at the necessary time of things.
There is a proportional relationship between the amount of hours a person spends on any given task/situation and how good they are at such things. This goes beyond the 10,000 hours of Gladwellian fame to expand to our relationships, our self-awareness, etc. If I allow myself the time to do the things that are important then I will improve myself in the areas/things that I find important. I’m not interested in debating the mastery formula. I am a true believer in the concept of time on task = improved understanding. I also believe that successful people find the will to actually work through that time and put in the hours.
If I am to be the person I mean to be in life, I have to be an example of someone who puts his effort where his words shine.
Some Thoughts:
- I really need to teach my kids how to fight. Not that ‘I won’t move or hit back’ karate stuff they teach kids these days, but real bare knuckles, ‘if someone comes at you this is what you do’ fighting. It hasn’t been an issue yet, but there is going to come a time when one of my boys is facing down a kid who wants at them.
- We didn’t have the net yesterday. Times like this I write on the computer and wait to post…
- Tomorrow I hope to find a moment to sit in the very spot I sat 15 yrs ago and recognized I was serious about writing.