| SpongeOsophy Essay "PIT STOP" The "Pits" can be good things |
Every once in a while we seem to get stuck in “ruts” as it were, or feel that life is
“the pits.” We feel that we have reached a plateau in our personal or
professional lives and it sinks us into a period of questioning everything about
our lives, goals, dreams and ambitions. I am here to tell you that these “pit
stops” are both an inevitable and necessary part of our growth as people.
How many of us have finished another day/week/month of our routine only to sit
back and say, “Is this all there is?” How many have been stuck in the same
position at their jobs, waiting and hoping for that recognition and promotion? I
dare say that every one of us questions our chosen life path from time to time.
We all reach that point where we want to make a change or even walk away from
our current job and lifestyle.
Myself, I have been beating my self-up and down as of late. Being “Sponge
Daddy” has taken so much away from my personal life, yet the financial rewards
have not yet come to fruition. I write and write, I bowl and bowl, I appear and
appear, yet the break I have been trying to force just has not come about. I
have sacrificed so much time with my family pursuing this dream of making a
difference. I had hoped that by doing all of this, the rewards (financial) would
come of themselves. I had hoped that many of the companies I have written to
would take notice and step up to the plate with some sponsorship for my bowling
pursuit. Perhaps then I might be able to earn enough money bowling to support
my family. It is obvious that I need to bowl a bit more in these events to get used
to the whole field, then make that first paycheck. But, the disability check I
earned along with Raine’s paycheck is barely enough to make ends meet, much
less pay for me to bowl on a regular basis. Catch-22.
Then there is the writing and mentoring side of what I am doing. I love this part
of it so very much. I have made a difference to so very many people. Every
week I get a different e-mail from someone telling me how I have given them the
hope to change their own lives. I answer each one of these. Those that call
me, I make time for them too. I remember what it was like facing my struggles
alone. I feel a duty to be here for those struggling with their own demons.
All of this takes up so very much of my time. Time with my family has been cut
way down.
The argument floating around here is, “Is it worth it?” Since there have been no
financial rewards from all of this, is it worth sacrificing time with my family? To be
honest, my readers, as of late I have seriously considered locking “Sponge
Daddy” away forever and going back to being the ordinary disabled
househusband.
Relax, readers, I am not going anywhere. I don’t think I could walk away from
you all if I wanted to.
I found myself in the “pits.” But something strange happened yesterday. I found
myself on the phone with a very dear friend and loyal reader. His own career
has reached one of those plateaus I mentioned earlier. It seems that his
business is so very close to their ultimate goal of success, yet they can’t seem to
get over that last hump. My friend was wondering if all that he had put into his
business was worth it. I told him of course it was, since it was what he had
always dreamed of doing.
After I hung up the phone I slapped myself in the face. Of course my efforts are
worth it. I am doing what I always dreamed of doing. Not only am I bowling
professionally (time to time) I am making a difference for more people than I ever
dreamed I could. Yeah, this is worth it, even if I never make a dime.
When we reach these “pits” we need to look at them as “pit STOPS.” Race car
drivers, whether they are winning or losing, have to take these “pit stops” from
time to time. They not only have to refuel their tanks, they have to look at their
overall strategy for winning when they get back in the race.
When we reach these “pit stops” we have to turn the melancholy into anger and
then into determination. We have to find our own sense of self again. We have
to refocus on our original goals. Have we had success? Heck yes we have. Is it
enough? If so, be content. If not, then dig down inside yourself and use the new
fuel in your tank to push to the next plateau.
So once in a while you feel you are in the “pits” try not to look at it as a bad
thing. No, you are not racing forward at the moment. But, you are refueling your
gas tank for the rest of the race. Without these pit stops, you might not reach
the finish line.
Be well,
Sponge
10/17/2005
“the pits.” We feel that we have reached a plateau in our personal or
professional lives and it sinks us into a period of questioning everything about
our lives, goals, dreams and ambitions. I am here to tell you that these “pit
stops” are both an inevitable and necessary part of our growth as people.
How many of us have finished another day/week/month of our routine only to sit
back and say, “Is this all there is?” How many have been stuck in the same
position at their jobs, waiting and hoping for that recognition and promotion? I
dare say that every one of us questions our chosen life path from time to time.
We all reach that point where we want to make a change or even walk away from
our current job and lifestyle.
Myself, I have been beating my self-up and down as of late. Being “Sponge
Daddy” has taken so much away from my personal life, yet the financial rewards
have not yet come to fruition. I write and write, I bowl and bowl, I appear and
appear, yet the break I have been trying to force just has not come about. I
have sacrificed so much time with my family pursuing this dream of making a
difference. I had hoped that by doing all of this, the rewards (financial) would
come of themselves. I had hoped that many of the companies I have written to
would take notice and step up to the plate with some sponsorship for my bowling
pursuit. Perhaps then I might be able to earn enough money bowling to support
my family. It is obvious that I need to bowl a bit more in these events to get used
to the whole field, then make that first paycheck. But, the disability check I
earned along with Raine’s paycheck is barely enough to make ends meet, much
less pay for me to bowl on a regular basis. Catch-22.
Then there is the writing and mentoring side of what I am doing. I love this part
of it so very much. I have made a difference to so very many people. Every
week I get a different e-mail from someone telling me how I have given them the
hope to change their own lives. I answer each one of these. Those that call
me, I make time for them too. I remember what it was like facing my struggles
alone. I feel a duty to be here for those struggling with their own demons.
All of this takes up so very much of my time. Time with my family has been cut
way down.
The argument floating around here is, “Is it worth it?” Since there have been no
financial rewards from all of this, is it worth sacrificing time with my family? To be
honest, my readers, as of late I have seriously considered locking “Sponge
Daddy” away forever and going back to being the ordinary disabled
househusband.
Relax, readers, I am not going anywhere. I don’t think I could walk away from
you all if I wanted to.
I found myself in the “pits.” But something strange happened yesterday. I found
myself on the phone with a very dear friend and loyal reader. His own career
has reached one of those plateaus I mentioned earlier. It seems that his
business is so very close to their ultimate goal of success, yet they can’t seem to
get over that last hump. My friend was wondering if all that he had put into his
business was worth it. I told him of course it was, since it was what he had
always dreamed of doing.
After I hung up the phone I slapped myself in the face. Of course my efforts are
worth it. I am doing what I always dreamed of doing. Not only am I bowling
professionally (time to time) I am making a difference for more people than I ever
dreamed I could. Yeah, this is worth it, even if I never make a dime.
When we reach these “pits” we need to look at them as “pit STOPS.” Race car
drivers, whether they are winning or losing, have to take these “pit stops” from
time to time. They not only have to refuel their tanks, they have to look at their
overall strategy for winning when they get back in the race.
When we reach these “pit stops” we have to turn the melancholy into anger and
then into determination. We have to find our own sense of self again. We have
to refocus on our original goals. Have we had success? Heck yes we have. Is it
enough? If so, be content. If not, then dig down inside yourself and use the new
fuel in your tank to push to the next plateau.
So once in a while you feel you are in the “pits” try not to look at it as a bad
thing. No, you are not racing forward at the moment. But, you are refueling your
gas tank for the rest of the race. Without these pit stops, you might not reach
the finish line.
Be well,
Sponge
10/17/2005
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