My husband (Mark) and I recently joined our neighbors’ bowling league. I’m not a bowler, but our neighbors assured us that the summer league was just for fun and that it was no big deal if I wasn’t good. So, we signed up for a summer full of bowling fun.
Mark is a competitive person and is naturally talented at anything sports related, so he fits right in with the folks who have been bowling competitively for years. Me? Not so much. My average score is 76. Seventy-six! In case you don’t know a thing about bowling, 76 is terrible.
Last night, our neighbors patiently coached me on where to look down the lane, when to release the ball, and how to follow through with my arm. My scores for the first two games were 80 and 81. I was pleased with my slight progress and thought my third game of the night would be even better. But I was wrong. I reached a new low score, below my average.
When we signed up for the bowling league, I had no interest in becoming a better bowler. Remember, it was just for fun. But each week, my desire not to be the lowest-scoring bowler grows. So, I listen to my neighbors’ coaching and try develop bowling skills.
During my low-scoring third game, I became frustrated and wondered why I was bothering with trying to be a better bowler. But it dawned on me that I am enjoying bowling, which I hadn’t expected, and like anything else, I have to learn and practice before I can make progress.
It’s easy to get frustrated and give up when we’re not naturally skilled at something. That’s exactly why I quit taking guitar lessons. Now, I wonder how far along I would be if I hadn’t quit. I’ve seen growth in my songwriting and piano playing simply because I fought to keep trying when it would’ve been easier to quit. I kept learning and practicing new skills even when I wondered if it was making a difference.
If you’re looking for an adventure, try something new, even if you think you might not enjoy it. Give yourself a chance to learn and practice new skills. Keep growing when you want to give up. You might discover a new and improved you along the way.
