How a Game of Picket Ball Opened My Heart
I just played my first Picket Ball game. I have never enjoyed playing racket games or ball games. If I am playing against anyone, it brings out my competitiveness. Therefore, I prefer running and weight lifting. If I have to win, I should only win against myself.
I am not proud of my competitiveness. I get moody over small unimportant games. I am insecure and needy. I have to win in everything to feel good about myself. The more I want to win, the more I will not win. Took me more than 40 years to come to this realisation.
The Picket Ball event was a corporate event that attendance is mandatory. The organisers invited a coach to give beginners like me 1 hour of lesson, followed by 1 hour of mini tournament.
Being a person who has no ball sense and a beginner, I came last in the tournament. I attended the event with no expectations. Surprisingly, I had fun and I have never laughed so much. I was not playing to win, therefore I had no pressure to play well. I was laughing at my mistakes. I was not thinking about other things except hitting the ball across the net. I did not care how others see me.
I was only interested in playing well. The only way to improve is to actually play the game. There are no short cuts. I observed how other plays and receive instructions from the coach. Nevertheless to play well, I still need to put in the hours and built up the foundations.
This philosophy applies to life. The only way is to start now. You cannot think yourself to success. You can only take consistent action to improve yourself. Even if you come last in the tournament; being a participant is more fun than being a spectator.
Start now, start today. You do not have to win. Being last is better than never starting.