The powerful slogan behind NIKE’s brand helped me in my writing.
Everything looks difficult until you keep trying and it gets easier. This is from my personal experience. Nothing comes easy in life.
Living meaningfully is about savoring the wonders of life through its challenges. Nothing is insurmountable. Even if you give up midway trying, you would have gained some insights, experience, and lessons from your attempts.
Some effort when pushed to the limit yields results and if pushed further, yields excellence. I can recall my own cases in point.
Something, anything appears difficult at first due to unfamiliarity, even in building relationships. It takes time, effort, and persistence.
Like writing for example. There were so many instances initially when I would stare at the blank screen and wondered what to write. After a few sentences, I grounded to a halt and was in despair.
What helped was that I am quite persistent and believe in myself. I believed that I could go on, maybe later when my mind became less clouded? I would go for a walk, a coffee, or a short rest. Especially, walks. They spark new ideas in me, churned my creative juices, and awakened my spirit.
Never force anything out of yourself, be in a natural flow with your own pace and rhythm.
I came back during many moments of mental blocks while writing, to continue my article. Some articles may even take a few days of intervals to complete, some may be finished instantly.
Recently, I was able to pen some poetry, almost instantaneously. It might not be the standard acceptable to others but that was a start to my spontaneity in writing. My self-confidence was boosted. My hopes were fired. My dreams were intensified.
Currently, I am fascinated by indoor rock climbing. The first time, I did it, it was challenging. First, I have to overcome the stigma of joining this sport at the registration counter when I would get asked about my age, medical history and the eyes gave away some doubt about me trying the sport.
But I persisted, knowing that slights are always part of human nature. After all, the climbers are mostly young people and a senior is unlikely to engage in this activity. But Nike says, “ Just Do It” so there I was.
It turned out to be an exhilarating experience since I managed to make it to the top of the basic walls. I deliberately looked downwards to overcome my fear of heights. I trusted that the auto-belay system would deliver me safely as I descended and that was a confidence booster as well. The rest is history and I am hooked on this sport.
“Just Do It” was applied to my other interests like scuba-diving and skiing.
For years, the fear of the unknown sea and the falling on the slippery snow slopes needed to be overcome. I found out after repeated failures that it was about following rules, staying relaxed, and just do it!
From scuba-diving, it took me repeated attempts making mistakes, correcting them, and trying again and again that after 300 dives( which were many dives), I could say that I am quite comfortable with the sport and managing myself well in unfavorable conditions like current situations and poor visibility.
Aside from that, the joys of enjoying the beautiful marine life and the acquired health benefits of scuba-diving were rewarding. The ability to maintain buoyancy, and keep score of one’s safety issues as well as one’s buddy instilled a sense of friendship and responsibility in us.
From skiing, it took me repeated falls, analyses as well as a good coach to fine-tune myself to be calm and balanced and understand the mechanics and dynamics of the sport. As a reasonable skier on the beginner slopes, I have the good fortune to build up more self-confidence and enjoy the views from the top of the station. This activity has laid the challenge for intermediate slopes which would provide a greater sense of adventure and learning.
“Just Do It” continues to ring in my mind. No venture, no gain. There is always a treasure to discover, a gem to uncover. Life is to be cherished and relished.
Let that be everyone’s slogan when confronted with a challenge.
“Decide what you want to do. Then decide to do it. Then do it.”
― William Knowlton Zinsser
