Remember the time
Is it worth it to wait? As a young adult, you are probably wondering why things don’t happen quicker for you. When we’re young, an hour, a day, a month represents a much larger body of time. As you get older and accrue more time, these units seem to fly by much quicker. Like sheets on a roll of toilet paper, the more of them that unravel, the faster the roll spins, the more we are able to put them in perspective.
Ever wonder why older people seem to be more patient? They have a better appreciation of time.
Which brings us back to a version of the original question: do good things really come to those who wait? Is it worth it?
Here’s an illustration: A major league baseball player is deemed successful if he gets a hit 1 time out of every 3 at bats. That means the best MLB players fail 67% of the time! When you’re in the midst of your first at-‐bats, that success rate might seem completely unacceptable. As you step to the plate more often, you start to understand that timely hitting, succeeding when it’s most critical, is the most important thing. No one gets a hit every time.
There’s more: the best baseball hitters employ a technique to help them succeed at a higher rate. This will sound counterintuitive, but it works. They wait for the ball to travel farther, get closer to them, before they start to swing. At first, most of us try to swing as soon as we see the ball. We don’t trust our abilities enough to wait any longer. When we start to swing too early, the chances of us missing are much greater. Our timing, precision and strategy are way off. Like a newborn fawn trying to walk, we stumble badly. One of the best hitters ever, Barry Bonds, developed his skill to such a degree that he would wait until the ball was almost in the strike zone before he began his swing. It sounds crazy, but the logic is sound.
The longer you wait, the quicker your hands need to work to get to the ball, therefore the faster the barrel of the bat must rotate to meet the ball. The closer the ball gets to you, the more likelihood you will square up the ball and hit it flush. The best players trust their ability and develop their skill through trial and error, giving them a higher rate of success. So, in the case of the best baseball players in the world, waiting is definitely worth it!
Today, remember, patience is a skill that must be learned. The quicker you employ patience, the more you understand its benefit. Yes, I am actually asking you to be impatient in your quest for patience – practice it right away.
Remember, let the ball travel closer to you before you swing. Don’t get down every time you strike out, because everyone does. When we get frustrated, there’s a tendency to jump early and not trust completely in our ability. Our chances for success drop dramatically. The goal changes from success to ‘get it over with’. The experience can turn from positive to negative. Here’s a tip to adopt when you get frustrated: slow down and wait. Resist the temptation to jump early. Then, celebrate your hits.
Always remember, I’m right behind you in the stands, on my feet, cheering you on. Have a great day! I’m proud of you! Love dad
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