Realistic Expectations :: Part 2

It was Thomas Edison who said: "Genius is one percent inspiration, 99 percent perspiration." I think he was onto something. But sometimes we think just the opposite, don't we?

Sometimes, we think that we may find success if we really, really want something but don't necessarily put the sweat behind that goal. Other times we put the perspiration into our dream but find we lack the skill to make it come true.

That's reality. But sometimes we don't expect it.

I was looking forward to Carter's baseball game last night. The team's first outing last week was a wash, basically, with 2 tied games. Since that was better than a big loss, I was optimistic about the game this week. Plus, Carter had been working hard all winter on his "game" and really, really wants to be good, so I figured he was due for his big break.

Unfortunately, he might have been missing that one percent.

First of all, he wasn't in the starting lineup. He later subbed in at right field. Missed catching a fly ball that landed a foot away. And a run was scored by the other team.

Not that others didn't make mistakes, but it was tough to watch. They got skunked 14-zip. So obviously, we were missing more than one percent of needed talent. Let's hope for better results on Thursday!

I can take a lesson from this, of course.

A bunch of us at work recently signed up for a competition to "Lose 10 pounds in 10 weeks." That's a realistic and healthy goal. However, did you know that just because you sign up for something doesn't mean the pounds will just start falling off without the "perspiration"?

I didn't know that.

Or so it seemed the first 2 weeks. I get the idea after yesterday's weigh-in that perspiration -- and a whole lot of it -- is needed now. Then, when all is said and done, I'll use that leftover one percent to take an inspired shopping trip for new clothes.

Who's with me?