Sidewinder

The Right Tool for the Job

It's hard to do a job without the right tools. Sure, you can toil away with an ill-fitted wrench on that nut hoping eventually it will break its hold, or you can take a little extra time (and ultimately save time) to get the right tools for the job.

We've all had projects that seemed so simple on paper. Went to Home Depot, read the cartoonized step-by-step instructions for laying that new ceramic tile floor, and said: I can save some money by doing it myself -- only to get home and realize that you really don't have the tools for the job.

The right tool does not have to be a physical implement. It could be access to a particular store of knowledge gained from hours of practical execution.

A true professional not only has the proper knowledge and expertise in their given trade, but also the right tools. You can have all the knowledge in the world, but if you can't supplement that knowledge with the instruments to complete the job, the knowledge is useless.

If you're going to do a job, save yourself the time and hassle and get the right tools.

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Slowing Down the Game

That's an old sports theory that I believe also applies to life.

The sports theory posits: As you execute more repetitions in practice and acquire more game-time experiences, the game itself tends to "slow" down. The game slows down in the sense that you are able to anticipate events, more quickly understand indicators and make quicker, more accurate decisions, which ultimately leads to a heightened level of execution. The slowing down of the game makes it much easier to play and be successful.

Life is the same way. As your life's experiences compound, things slow down. You are able to make more timely, better educated decisions. You are able to see life's playing field from a broader perspective -- understanding more completely the subtleties that help you navigate the many challenges life puts before you.

The key to slowing life down is repetition -- otherwise known as experiences. The more you experience, the more you learn, the better you live.

Challenge yourself to be open to new experiences, keep learning and life will slow down.

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Friends Don't Owe

That's actually a line from the movie Rocky. If you're not familiar with the movie, that line was delivered by Rocky during an argument with Paulie. Paulie, a down-on-his-luck butcher/meat packer, was trying to get Rocky to get him a job as an enforcer for the local bookie, and thought that just because he was friends with Rocky, Rocky owed him. Rocky tells Paulie that friends don't owe, they do because they want to do.

Not sure why that line continues to resonate with me. If I had to guess, it would probably be because, as a society, we've become reliant on other people for things, or maybe less responsible for our actions. Instead of taking responsibility for our actions, we're more apt to try to pass blame on others, or solve our problems by leaning on someone else for solutions.

Sure, it's okay to lean on friends in times of trouble. After all, that's a trait of a true friend -- the person who will drop everything at a moments notice to help you when you are truly in need of assistance. But, you should be very selective with when you choose to reach out for that support. It should truly be a time of trouble, and not some random problem you can solve by yourself with a little hard work or acceptance of responsibility.

True friends will always be there to support you, no matter what. Just be judicious with your expectations.

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The Perishable Mind

When was the last time you really challenged your mind -- focused on something so intensely that it actually mentally and physically exhausted you? You know when you truly focus because the effort transcends time. You look at the clock and hours have passed without you even knowing, and it's a great feeling.

I've always challenged my mind with the creative process. For years I have constructed installations, or what some call paintings. I've gotten to the point where I build the installations from scratch. I find nothing more satisfying than watching something my mind conceived become a physical reality.

Lately I've poured my mental stimulation into this blog, and in the course I have developed a new outlet for the desire to exercise the creative process. All of the pictures associated with the posts on this blog are drawn by me. Those pictures, which usually start out as a simple thought, ultimately shape the words you are reading. So, I'm creating "art" and practicing my writing.

At the end of the day, I don't care who reads my blog, or likes my art work (my art is an acquired taste) -- although, it's nice if folks do like the product. I draw the pictures and write the posts for myself as a way to exercise and challenge my mind. Much like with physical exercise, this blog has become mental exercise for me -- a way to work out my mind.

I'm a firm believer in the school of thought that your mind is perishable, if you don't use it (challenge it), you'll lose it. Whether you exercise your mind with the creative process, stimulate it with a good book, play or listen to music, work a crossword puzzle, or any other way you can find, the key is to invigorate your thought process. Push your mental faculties. Continue to challenge your mind and it will continue to surprise you with what it is capable of accomplishing.

How do you challenge your mind?

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