2.13.13

I know, I often quote from the world of sports. I'm not ignorant of wisdom from other sources- music, film, literature, philosophy, religion- but in many ways sports just speak to me.

There is a lot of truth to that statement, far beyond hockey and sports. There are some people who are very good at this, at taking their shots at something different, something challenging, something outside of their comfort zone, at something new, changing their tried-and-true; my sister is very good at this. Most folks I know are reasonably adept at this. It is a mindset that I truly hope my niece and nephew adopt. Me? Often not so much.

In my life, though there have been some areas where I have taken my shots as it were - hit and miss- owing perhaps to my generally more cautious, conservative, risk-averse nature I've tended to not take many of those shots, those risks, seemingly preferring instead to ensure that I didn't miss, didn't fail, at the cost of shooting unsuccessfully. In hindsight clearly not the best course of action (or more appropriately, inaction) and I do realize and live with the facts that I allowed myself to miss out on many- potential- hits from the shots that I chose not to take. This is particularly true career-wise (both in terms of what I chose to study in and what I chose to pursue post-college) and, I suppose, relationship-wise.  While I have become somewhat better at this- I have tended to be less risk-averse than I was, and this began prior to my current health issues- it is something that I struggle with still. You might think that, given my health issues and my clock ticking a bit faster that I'd be willing to throw all- well, many; ok, some- cautions to the wind. But I'm still not- yet- wired that way.

To quote Michael Corleone (see? I can quote from film, too!) I'll change; I'll change. I've learned that I have the strength to change (OK, maybe not the best example, as he didn't.) There's a theory called the 21 Day Rule that posits that habits can be created, or changed, in as little as 21 days given that: We are what we repeatedly do- Aristotle (philosophy too- you're a real Renaissance Man Vito!) Perhaps being less risk-averse, perhaps taking, and maybe even making, a few more shots, perhaps altering my existing and creating new habits is something positive that I can work on this Lenten Season (Ash Wednesday today folks.)

Hey, it beats giving up alcohol for Lent!