When greyhounds race they chase a lure around the track (as pictured above). The lure stays in front of them the whole time, beckoning the dogs to caught it. This is what keeps the dogs moving and going around the track. And that’s the whole of dog racing – releasing the gate and have them chase the lure around the track, a lure that is never catchable. Sometimes I feel that is the whole of my life – chasing a lure that is never catchable.
I grew up in a family without much means. And as is the case with most families of limited income there were many social protocols that we didn’t learn. We were taught manners, absolutely, but it’s the social nuances of writing thank you notes, knowing how to talk to professionals, formal dinning etiquettes, and the like that we didn’t learn. There’s no indictment against anyone, it’s just how it was. This makes the story of my siblings and myself unusual. We didn’t learn social protocols at home but we have learned them.
As I have learned social etiquette I have also been active in professional groups. Many of the members in these groups were raised in more affluent homes than myself. That has given them an advantage in both social standing and personal achievement. I have met many people 10 years my younger who have achieved more than myself now, much less when I was their age.
This is where I feel like a greyhound chasing the lure. It can be hard being around people who at 26 have a house that is worth 2 to 3 times the house you have at 36. I try to avoid the ‘keeping up with the Joneses” game and do a decent enough job at it, so it’s not about that. It’s more about your own personal goals and seeing others achieving them at a younger age than yourself. It’s about realizing the head start others have had and coming to terms with it. And try as you may even the most self-assured person will have moments of feeling inadequate, especially when surrounded by others who have achieved your personal goals much sooner.
So what do you do? There’s no real easy answer. It’s simply acknowledging that not everything is even, some will have head starts, some will have advantages. In the end, though, it’s not about them, it’s about you. It’s about pushing on the grind stone, making it happen and focusing on your goals, your passions. And while you may feel like a dog at the race track chase your lure, chase it all the way around the track. Even if you never catch the lure you’ve completed the race – and that’s more important.
Attempt it. Chance it. Try it. Get to It!