"Look at me, my depth perception must be off again." I was talking with Kevin today, and we had a chance to catch up and talk about a lot of things. He's got his own (town)house out in the 'burbs already and everything, and he seems to be living the "American dream" already. And I mentioned that I envied where he'd gotten in life, and how he seems to have made a lot of big moves in his life that have panned out.
And he used an analogy that I thought was pretty spot on... Back in the day, we used to carpool all the time, and it was like a running gag that I had such awful depth perception. So when driving, I'd be sitting at an intersection forever waiting to make a turn, whereas Kevin (who's the bold, and at times reckless, driver) could have made it 3 or 4 times by the time I finally make the turn.
And I think this parallels how I am in the rest of my life as well. I'm always hesitating, waiting for the perfect opportunity to come along, that I pass up all kinds of smaller but equally good options along the way. I'm just not "seize-the-day" enough. I can't see the good opportunities staring me in the face: I have no depth perception. I'm just too scared to take any chances, always hesitating.
*Semi-Aside:
Kevin and I were really close back in high school (though we kinda drifted apart in college). We did science fair together for 3 years back in the day, to much success- making it to internationals twice. We were really a good team probably because we were quite different. It was really pretty yin & yang- a good pairing of my book smarts & technical ability with his street smarts & quick talking ability. At the time, I always thought so highly of myself. I fancied myself the leader back in the day, but in the grown-up world, guys like me end up working for guys like him. The brain always plays second-fiddle to the mouth in corporate America.
So these days, I feel like I'm the one who got the short end of the stick. I would trade my book smarts for street smarts in a heartbeat. In a rich dad/poor dad kinda universe, I'm totally doomed to be the poor dad. =( I just don't have the mentality to be the big fish. I'm too risk averse, too scared at the possibility of failure that I can't see the possibility for wild success either. I've got no depth perception...
And he used an analogy that I thought was pretty spot on... Back in the day, we used to carpool all the time, and it was like a running gag that I had such awful depth perception. So when driving, I'd be sitting at an intersection forever waiting to make a turn, whereas Kevin (who's the bold, and at times reckless, driver) could have made it 3 or 4 times by the time I finally make the turn.
And I think this parallels how I am in the rest of my life as well. I'm always hesitating, waiting for the perfect opportunity to come along, that I pass up all kinds of smaller but equally good options along the way. I'm just not "seize-the-day" enough. I can't see the good opportunities staring me in the face: I have no depth perception. I'm just too scared to take any chances, always hesitating.
*Semi-Aside:
Kevin and I were really close back in high school (though we kinda drifted apart in college). We did science fair together for 3 years back in the day, to much success- making it to internationals twice. We were really a good team probably because we were quite different. It was really pretty yin & yang- a good pairing of my book smarts & technical ability with his street smarts & quick talking ability. At the time, I always thought so highly of myself. I fancied myself the leader back in the day, but in the grown-up world, guys like me end up working for guys like him. The brain always plays second-fiddle to the mouth in corporate America.
So these days, I feel like I'm the one who got the short end of the stick. I would trade my book smarts for street smarts in a heartbeat. In a rich dad/poor dad kinda universe, I'm totally doomed to be the poor dad. =( I just don't have the mentality to be the big fish. I'm too risk averse, too scared at the possibility of failure that I can't see the possibility for wild success either. I've got no depth perception...
posted by Dear Daniel at 7:00 PM
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