I’M NO ROCKET SURGEON
Friday, July 10, 2020
Nor a brain scientist.
Figuring things out is hard work – no matter how smart we are.
The trajectory of any given day is like watching a film of early-days rocketry experiments. The blast-off might look normal, and the launch appears as expected.
And then, they blow up, go off course, crash back to earth amidst a massive explosion. That’s a massive disappointment to those experimenting rocketeers, but they knew that was coming with the territory.
But our days – we well organized, well planned, scheduled, device laden folk, creatures of our time with reminders and beeps for everything – a virtual GPS in our heads of what do to, when to do it, and risks and fudge-factors all factored-in.
We cannot let a little setback, disappointment, or something that didn’t go according to plan or according to Hoyle yesterday to get in the way of our trajectory today.
We can laugh when we see those old films of rockets failing, but we also know that rocket science can take cargo and human payloads vast distances and bring them back safely. Everything we do every day is less complicated than that – and all of that was developed by humans like you and me.
I met a fellow here in Calgary a couple of years ago. His name is Ernie, a retired electrician-whiz who worked for NASA during the Apollo series missions. While Ernie is not average in terms of his talent with electronics, he’s otherwise an ordinary guy who mows grass, shovels snow, tends his garden, and he wants to leave his affairs in order for his family. In 99% of the ways we live life, Ernie is just like you and me.
On the other hand, I have things at which I am fantastic, skilled, qualified, and proficient.
That’s my 1%.
The same for you, things you are gifted at, something only you understand, but otherwise – we are just the same.
We can all react to the gesticulations of life in this time of COVID. We can return safely to normalcy – wiser, careful, thoughtful, and more appreciative of the value of a healthy life caused by living inside a healthy body.
Do all those things you are suited for, talented for, and which give you joy – that’s your point of differentiation from everyone else. Mine is writing and real estate – two things I love and which I throw myself into daily without fretting about what will make me a dollar being more important than what will make me better at serving others. The rest is my 99%, just like you. We are in this together. Not that we can hold hands physically without gloves and masks, but we can feel that connection just the same.
Have a great day enjoying things you are great at – but don’t forget the other 99% of your life, because it needs sustenance.