The Journey
Start. Middle. Finish. Three distinct phases recognized in all facets of life. Not a one can exist without the presence of the others, and yet all too often I see traceur after traceur fall into the trap of placing all the importance on one particular point: the finish.
As traceurs, we are all after the ability to execute a kong, or a wall climb, a kong to cat, or any of the other thousands of movements we drill day in and day out. Every beginner strives for the feeling of that first successful kong. But once it's attained, on you go to acquire the kong to precision! And on it goes. Make it smoother. Make it bigger. Make a video. Push, push, push.
To follow is a short excerpt from a talk given by a wonderful philosopher named Alan Watts. Here he outlines and illuminates the supreme irony of the modern concept of "success."
The irony of success is not absent in parkour and here is a reminder to everyone who may stumble on this article, never forget that growth is not a product of the finish. The end simply cannot be without having first journeyed.
As you are on your way to that first kong, first wall climb, first kong to cat or precision, whatever it may be, remember that all of these "accomplishments" are a part of the journey, and you should sing and dance along the way. Frustration and failure are inevitably a factor of the journey. Without them, "success" means nothing.
As traceurs, we are all after the ability to execute a kong, or a wall climb, a kong to cat, or any of the other thousands of movements we drill day in and day out. Every beginner strives for the feeling of that first successful kong. But once it's attained, on you go to acquire the kong to precision! And on it goes. Make it smoother. Make it bigger. Make a video. Push, push, push.
To follow is a short excerpt from a talk given by a wonderful philosopher named Alan Watts. Here he outlines and illuminates the supreme irony of the modern concept of "success."
The irony of success is not absent in parkour and here is a reminder to everyone who may stumble on this article, never forget that growth is not a product of the finish. The end simply cannot be without having first journeyed.
As you are on your way to that first kong, first wall climb, first kong to cat or precision, whatever it may be, remember that all of these "accomplishments" are a part of the journey, and you should sing and dance along the way. Frustration and failure are inevitably a factor of the journey. Without them, "success" means nothing.
Labels: parkour training, the journey
posted by Charles at
6:52 PM
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