Practice

Well, the forecast is calling for wind and rain today, much like yesterday and the day before. It doesn't seem long ago that we were endlessly discussing the gorgeous weather that seemed to grace our slopes day after day. Such is the way of things perhaps. A little walk in the woods might be good, if the weather holds.

I thought about somethings last night. I realized that I have again grown impatient with myself, not allowing sufficient time to accumulate before experience, attitudes, and skills become internalized and more a part of the mind. This is not uncommon for me, and perhaps it is so with others as well. We try to learn things as quickly as possible, and when the necessary learning does not take place to a sufficient degree, we become frustrated and discouraged with our progress. Yet intellectually we know that each skill and idea takes a varying amount of time to master and internalize; it cannot be set by the person, but depends on the state and degree of preparation of the intellect, or so experience would have us believe. The proper place for focus ought to be directed toward the achievment of good practice rather than the achievment of outstanding results, because it is said that outstanding results are a consequence of good practice.

Sometimes our focus on this point is not so good. Sometimes we lose sight of the correct target for which to aim, and the result is bad practice and bad results, which of course usually compounds our frustrations further. A level-headed, reasoned, and periodic examination of our practice is therefore a necessary component of daily life, as it seeks to redirect those mis-targeted efforts toward their proper end. I do not believe I am the only person to suffer from this tendency of losing focus and direction. It would seem to happen to almost everyone at one time or another. Yet reflection and examination do not seem to be talked much about in public settings, or so my experience has so far observed. The public world seems focused on debate and consumption; achievment and self-promotion. It seems about doing more and more, filling the day with endless tasks and innumerable obligations. One must be busy all the time if one is to get anywhere in this world. One must learn to work unceasingly.

Which to my mind is bull. Others may have their opinions, but experience suggests to me that ceaseless work is a recipe for bad work. Professional runners do not run more than 3-hours a day at most, because they know they shall never recover if they do more. Can you imagine a full-time job that required, at most, 3-hours a day of work? It is strange to us, perhaps, because we are accustomed to thinking in terms of longer shifts where full-time employment is concerned. Yet a runner who tries running 4-hours a day, no matter who he or she is, will probably injure themselves and be unable to compete professionally again. Which means the runner will get to work 8-hours a day in a regular job instead of the 3 they worked as a runner.

It might be comical if it were not also so sad. We live in a world which often emphasizes that more is more, and focuses on the need for struggle to achieve anything worthwhile. Maybe it is foolish, but a better way seems possible; just look at the runner. A runner runs, and then he or she rests. Those who do it right, and are blessed with a well-constucted body, go on running for many years, and some even enjoy themselves immensely in the process. They have great fun, and they improve. Perhaps that is the right idea; to have fun, and to improve.

But truly, I don't know. Too much thinking about achievment and the end result means less thought devoted to the process which may or may not lead to that end. Perhaps it would serve us well to be mindful of what we do consider the many processes of which we find ourselves a part. Much to do, kind readers, yet much not to do as well.