Practice vs Nature
A woman went up to a concert pianist and said “I would give anything to play like you.”
He replied “Would you give anything? Would you give 8 hours a day, seven days a week for the last 20 years.”
I heard this story many years ago from my pastor at the time. But it struck me. Greatness takes time and dedication and if you want to be good at something you need to practice. But, to the outside observer, the things that may have taken much time and effort may seem like a natural part of your personality or like a talent.
For example, I did't grow up particularly athletic. I would see those kids that were stronger and faster than me and I though it was just "naturally" that way. I thought that God had made me physically inferior. It never occurred to me that, behind the scenes, there was a lot of work being put it. Work that I was not doing. Certainly some of those kids were involved in sports and practice and worked hard to be stronger and faster. And I can attest to the fact that once I did put in work as an adult I was able to be strong and fast as well.
I have 5 kids and have gone through the 5 pregnancies and weight gain that goes along with that. Many people have alluded to the fact that I must be naturally thin and that is why I am able to bounce back after every pregnancy. But those that are close to me can attest to the fact that I have worked very had and consistently through diet and exercise to maintain my "naturally thin" body.
So now, I wonder, what is it in my life that I want to become that I think should just come naturally but I simply have not put in the work to attain? What is it that I envy and value in others that I have not realized that they have put a lot of work into. Maybe envying those women that have so many great friendships but they take a lot of time and effort into being good friends. Or people that are "naturally" stylish and have great taste both in clothes and in home decor but maybe they put a lot of thought into how they have arranged their homes and how they dress their bodies and I have not put that same work in. And, if I did I would have the same things. But we do have limited time and resources and we have to make choices about what it is we are willing to invest those things into. I am going to talk a bit more about this soon but I will conclude with the thought that we are not inferior, if we put our minds to it we can accomplish and do amazing things.
He replied “Would you give anything? Would you give 8 hours a day, seven days a week for the last 20 years.”
I heard this story many years ago from my pastor at the time. But it struck me. Greatness takes time and dedication and if you want to be good at something you need to practice. But, to the outside observer, the things that may have taken much time and effort may seem like a natural part of your personality or like a talent.
For example, I did't grow up particularly athletic. I would see those kids that were stronger and faster than me and I though it was just "naturally" that way. I thought that God had made me physically inferior. It never occurred to me that, behind the scenes, there was a lot of work being put it. Work that I was not doing. Certainly some of those kids were involved in sports and practice and worked hard to be stronger and faster. And I can attest to the fact that once I did put in work as an adult I was able to be strong and fast as well.
I have 5 kids and have gone through the 5 pregnancies and weight gain that goes along with that. Many people have alluded to the fact that I must be naturally thin and that is why I am able to bounce back after every pregnancy. But those that are close to me can attest to the fact that I have worked very had and consistently through diet and exercise to maintain my "naturally thin" body.
So now, I wonder, what is it in my life that I want to become that I think should just come naturally but I simply have not put in the work to attain? What is it that I envy and value in others that I have not realized that they have put a lot of work into. Maybe envying those women that have so many great friendships but they take a lot of time and effort into being good friends. Or people that are "naturally" stylish and have great taste both in clothes and in home decor but maybe they put a lot of thought into how they have arranged their homes and how they dress their bodies and I have not put that same work in. And, if I did I would have the same things. But we do have limited time and resources and we have to make choices about what it is we are willing to invest those things into. I am going to talk a bit more about this soon but I will conclude with the thought that we are not inferior, if we put our minds to it we can accomplish and do amazing things.
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