One Day Is Better Than No Days
At jiu jitsu tonight, we had someone come to class who we haven’t seen in a while. She was training regularly a year or two ago, and then disappeared.
This isn’t uncommon. Life happens. Things, people , and events get in the way. Boredom or disinterest sets in. Character is revealed. (More on that last one in a moment.)
In the second half of class, we were rolling (that’s what we call sparring in Brazilian jiu jitsu), and she walked over before a round started and indicated that she would like to roll. Before we started, I said, “Long time, no see.”
“Yeah,” she said, sounding down. “Life has been…complicated lately.”
“Yeah, I get it,” I said. Because I did. But she didn’t need to hear my life story right then. “But you’re here now, so that’s a good thing.”
“I don’t know,” she said. “I’m not sure it is. It’s only one day, and I’m essentially starting over.”
“One day is better than no days,” I said. “What’s important is that you’re here now.”
Then the round started.
This was a purely spur of the moment comment, no real thought had gone into it. But I think it’s a truth that has really resonated with me lately. Doing something, anything, today, right now, that brings me closer to a goal, that lets me learn something, that gives me the opportunity to improve, that brings me joy, is a good thing.
It doesn’t matter that I didn’t reach the peak of the mountain today. What matters is that I showed up. It’s one step. Which means, it’s one step closer.
If there’s a message I hope I can convey with this blog, with the podcast, with whatever medium this is being consumed in, I hope that it’s this:
One day is better than no days.
Please go and pursue your joy. You don’t have to be an expert, or even good at it. Nobody started out good. But take that first step. And it’s OK if you stumble and make mistakes, it’s the only way to get better.