Everybody Sucks (at first)

Do you remember your first steps? You know, that day when you went from scooting around on all fours to joining the ranks of the rest of us bipeds. It was a pretty great day at the time. People cheered for you. They were so proud of your accomplishments and how much you’ve matured. Just taking those few steps was a captivating moment for everyone that knew you. A real landmark in the history of you.

So, do you remember that day?

I’m just guessing, but I’m pretty sure you don’t remember it so let me be real honest about that first day of walking – you actually sucked at it. No, really. You weren’t that good. Two or three steps at a time was about all you could pull off. Then you’d topple over and smash your face on the ground, and end up in a heap of tears and snot. The whole walking thing wasn’t as easy as everybody made it look. It was pretty much a train wreck.

How sad is that?

Walking on two legs isn’t something that is that difficult for most able-bodied homosapiens, and yet you really weren’t that good at it…for a long time. You fell down – a lot! And just when you actually felt pretty good about being upright, you tried adding a little speed to move from walking to running, but once again you fell down. C’mon! I know gravity is tough on all of us, but stay vertical!

Now, fast forward a few years. You’re 18 years old! About to leave home for the first time. Off on a new adventure. Everyone is cheering for you. They are all so proud of your accomplishments and your maturity. They want to celebrate this landmark in your history.

For the first time, you’re about to take the training wheels of childhood off and take your first steps into adulthood. But wait. Get ready for this. You’re going to suck at it!

Sorry I have to be the one to tell you, but it’s true.

You’re going to fall flat on your face. It’s going to hurt. You may even cry. A lot. The reality is this, though: you’re supposed to suck at it! You’ve never done it before. It takes a while to get your balance. It’s not as easy as the rest of us make it look.

But don’t forget…it wasn’t that long ago that you couldn’t even stand up without falling over. Literally.

How long has it been since you had a hard time putting one foot in front of the other? You don’t even think about it now. When someone asks you to move from one place to another, you don’t have to concentrate to stay vertical. Something that you once sucked at is absolutely natural now. That’s how life works. And it doesn’t stop there!

You’re going to get in a serious relationship at some point…and you’ll suck at it at first.

You’re more than likely going to get married one day…and you’ll have no clue how to do it.

Someone is going to hire you to do the one thing you’ve always wanted to do…and no matter how smart you are, you’ll be a rookie at first.

And then the ultimate suckitude shows up when someone hands you a wiggly, squirmy, screaming bundle that looks like you but a lot smaller, and you’ll realize just how much you DON’T know.

Everyone sucks at first.

You can’t be prepared for life. Life does its own preparing. You fall. It hurts. You cry. You get back up and learn from it. You rely on the knowledge of those that are better at whatever it is than you are currently. Let them hold your hand for a minute to help you steady yourself, and then take off. Before long you’re a pro!

Don’t put so much pressure on yourself to get it “right.” Learning and growing and becoming is the point, not perfection.

Nobody came out of the womb running!