So I just got back from a HUGE snowball fight* and I think I had an epiphany. I'm pretty sure it happened somewhere between my first snowbath and when I got full-on pegged in the eye from across the volleyball court. It was as follows: "Wow, I'm not good at a lot of stuff."
It's depressing to think about, really. I knew, coming into the fight, that I'm no good at throwing. But that was okay, because I could just run around a lot and get into a close-range fight, then do alright (except I also have terrible aim.) So I wasn't too put-off whenever I threw a snowball to have it land a few feet short of my target... I'm better at other stuff, anyways.
Later on in the fight, I decided to utilize something I consider myself good at - wrestling. So when we charged a group of my friends, I dropped the snowballs I couldn't really use too well anyway and tackled a guy. It was an okay little skirmish, and we both kinda got tired and backed off after a while. Then about ten minutes later, while standing on the volleyball court with some friends and lobbing an occasional snowball, I was suddenly blindsided by Vahn running full-force. By the time I had recovered from the initial shock, he was already on top of me and shoving snow in my face. Lovely... beat at my own game.
But that's all okay, right? I've never been too much of a fighter anyway. What I'm really good at is taking charge of a situation that needs taking charge of. Yet when a girl from the Sandlot stairwell came into some misfortune and fell to the ground pretty hurt, I just kinda stood there with the rest of the people and looked. It was Chad who stepped forward right away and made sure the situation was taken care of.
Hmmm. Alright, alright, but I mean what I'm really, really good at is school, right? What I can beat anyone else at is excelling academically, right? Then I remember the fact that once again, there are so many people a whole lot better than me at that, too.
It's depressing to think about, really.
I guess I can take comfort in the realization that it's not so much what one thing I'm good at, but more of the fact that I'm made of so many different talents. And when you really think about it, there are very few people who can ever claim to be the best at anything.
I think the moral of the story is that I should spend less time comparing myself to others and more time focusing on who I am.
Thanks for reading,
-Daniel K
*Yeah... It's mid-April and we got 10 inches of snow today. Go Colorado...?
3 comments:
I know it sounds more than a little wierd, but I enjoy listening to you talk. The way you speak, your style, its distinctive. If its any consolation, you're the best informal speaker as far as I'm concerned.
Hey thanks, man. That's good to hear.
-Daniel K
You are good at being the last one awake at home. You are good at not doing nothing. You are good at making hamster elevators. You are good at making marshmellow guns. You are good a leaving half full glasses of water upside down on the table. You are good at being self-sufficient. You are good at eating all your sister's cereal and replacing it rocks and dirt.
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