Not all of Dad’s Wizbits about work were really deep or life-changing. There were many about work and all of them have helped me. One such wizbit came on a summer afternoon when I was about 14 years old. We lived about two miles from the Tennessee River where we tried to spend time boating and swimming as a family.
I had a friend who lived even closer to the river and had his own little boat with a motor. This particular day, he had asked me to join him in his boat to go out on the river. I was excited, to say the least, because I had never been out on a boat without adults. This could possibly mean I was growing up! I went to Mother and Dad to ask permission (or more likely, to tell them that I was going) and was confronted with a dilemma. It seems I had not yet gotten around to mowing the front yard and it was MY TURN. I begged and pled with them to allow me to do it later but to no avail. The law had been laid down.
I had to get my work done before I was allowed to play. I was crushed, but, determined! I went out and mowed that yard more quickly than it had ever been mowed before. I practically flew over the grass, bouncing the mower over rocks and roots, barely touching the grass in some places. When I was done, I presented the results to receive my “ticket” to boating and went on my way.
This was just one of the times that I was taught this valuable lesson, but for some reason, it stands out in my mind. For whatever reason, I’m glad it has stood so well. Throughout my life, it has always been difficult to keep this principle. I often consider going out to “play” when there is work to be done, but whenever I do, the work keeps me from enjoying the play as much.
Of course, there are times when play must be put before some work. There are times when we, as parents, must play with our children when there is laundry, dishes, cleaning, or any number of things that need to be done. And even children need to play sometimes when there are “work” things that they need to do. But ultimately, I think the point that Dad was making was that work is important, too, and it cannot be ignored just to please ourselves.
This world is full of the implication that we can and must have instant gratification. It simply is not the case. We neither need nor deserve this instant satisfaction. It is something that is pounded into our subconscious through television, print and radio advertising as well as from well-meaning peers. But true satisfaction and gratification only come through planning and working toward your goal.
Yes, there are ways that one can accomplish much through very little work. But the majority of these times, the success is not appreciated. The successful person often will not know how to appreciate the instant success and will “blow” it on more instantly gratifying items and end up with little or nothing. Work is an integral part of success. Even the “play” we afford ourselves is enjoyed even more when it follows a good work session.
Work is not the most important thing by any means. Neither is play, for that matter. There must be an equilibrium between the two. Dad knew that and did his best to teach us that valuable lesson.
