Be a N00b!

That's right: be a N00b. For any gamers out there: I know its a tall order, but stick with me while I get everyone on the same page. For those of you not familiar with the term, n00b - yes, zeros and all - is an often derogatory term for someone who is new to gaming and is generally poor at all parts of it compared to the experienced player.

Now that we are on the same page, think about this: what is a n00b doing to earn that title? He or she is above all else trying something new and struggling with it. In life it is so easy to find a niche, a bit of success, and then stop. If you do that, how can you ever really achieve anything ever again?
This is not a point about success and how we can feel more of it. What it is is a reminder that what we remember at the end of the day and for years after is not the achievement at the end, but the feeling of being challenged and pushed. We remember the fear of failing.

A couple years ago, I suddenly found myself with an apartment and bills and no summer job. Immediately I kicked into crisis mode. I scoured newspapers, the Internet, friends and acquaintances looking for a  job. In a week or so I thought I had found my answer: whitewater rafting.

It seemed perfect. I had been a lifeguard and canoeing instructor and I love the water in all seasons. What could go wrong? I'd go out, learn the river, get certified, and show rich people an amazing time going down the river and get paid handsomely in the form of fistfuls of tips. Then reality decided to check-in on me. I quickly got slapped in the face by the fact that I was not built for rafting. I am not a big guy - about 5' 8" and at the time 145 lbs - and the river is a powerful force. Most of the guys(and girls) working on the river had 20 pounds on me and most of the guys were 6' 1" or 6' 2" to start. On top of the surging rapids, the boats we moved around before and after the trip weigh in around 300 lbs. They wanted me to be able to lift and throw them solo! I was in every way a n00b. The worst part was that that feeling of not measuring up, never went away. I continued to flip boats in rapids, get zero extra money, and get chewed out by my bosses. It was sobering, it was agonizing, it inspired me. It inspired me to get more fit than ever, it inspired me to reevaluate what I did with my time, it reminded me that real success never comes without really, really hard work. Most importantly, I learned not to judge people who can't do somethings as well as I can.

That's what I learned from being a n00b, but that took an entire summer. There is nothing stopping everyone of us from being a n00b for a day. A gamer could play sports with friends, a hiker can start a blog, mathematicians can try to paint. We should all experience the trial, challenges and triumphs of being new at something, at least sometimes.