My Cousin Sue (Cousin is capitalized and there is no comma between the two words. Just so we're clear) wrote a short essay on the (in)famous words of Master Yoda..."Do, or do not. There is no try." You can read it here: As a Star Wars dork and also someone who enjoys thinking and writing about shit like this, I have just poured a whiskey and am diving head-first into it. I mean, this is far from the first time I've ever pondered these words, but the first time sharing them. Let's chat.
Yoda's words center around the word "try". "Try" is an attempt, no? An attempt has an outcome, correct? Cousin Sue (we will refer to her, lovingly, as CS) touched on "trying" not having to mean half-assing. In Luke's case, during the Dagoba scene in "Empire", he most certainly was half-assing it. "Alright, I'll give it a try" Luke says in his whiney, loser voice after Yoda's about fucking had it with him. This is in reference to Yoda telling him to lift the X-Wing out of the swamp with the Force, explaining to him that he "must unlearn what he has learned", clearly meaning that things that seem impossible are possible with the Force...or in real life, with determination, practice, and knowledge. So, half-assing, Luke was. Let's go back to "try". CS is learning to play classical guitar...which I think is tops. In my eyes, and Yoda's apparently, she is not trying to play classical guitar, she is playing classical guitar. You either play it, or you don't play it. How good you are at something doesn't really matter to me. If you keep doing it with determination, learn something every time you pick up that guitar, and practice your ass off, you will become accomplished at it. But as soon as you pick up that guitar with a goal in mind and half-assedness far out the window, then in Master Earl and Yoda's eyes, you play classical guitar. Susan, do you play classical guitar? "Yes" should be the first thing that comes out of her mouth. Now, if she would like to elaborate further on her progress, continued interest, or skill level, she may feel free to do so as to not come off as something she is not. She could say something like, "Yes. But I just started. There is quite the learning curve." Or, "Yes. But it's not going too well. I may take a break and pick it back up in a year or so." Or, "Yes. I absolutely love it. Never thought I could do something like this." So I guess what we need to figure out, is what is the difference between a try and a do? To try is to attempt, or put effort into accomplishing something. To do is to perform an act. So it looks like Meriam sees it as a "success" or a "failure". I prefer the absolutes. While putting effort into something, you are doing. If you fail while putting effort into something, you are still doing, and gaining valuable knowledge in the process, I might add. If there is no effort, if there is no attempt, you are not doing. If you whine about shit like Luke and have no heart, no ambition, no effort inside you, you are not doing. You are going through the motions or half-assing. There is no do. How you represent that "do" means something, too. If you do a bunch of shit poorly, but just tell people that you do a bunch of shit, without elaborating on your success, then that's just a character flaw. And Jedis shouldn't have that kind of character flaw. Matt, are you a writer? "Yes. I've got some blogs, nothing major." Not, "I try to on occasion." Matt, do you barbecue? "Yes. Been doing it for several years. Got a little business. I dig it." Not, "Yeah, I dabble." Matt, do wrap your own Christmas presents? "Yes. But I'm fucking awful at it." Not, "I try to, but I suck." Matt, do you eat healthy? "No. But I'm eating better". Or, "sometimes" will also work in a pinch. Slight differences probably, but own what you do, own what you're good at, own what you're okay at, and own what you suck at. "Try" is a copout word used to degrade or lessen something that you do. Own your do, elaborate as necessary. I vote for using idioms such as, "Give it a do", "Do it on for size", and "if at first you don't succeed, fucking do it again." A try is a do. Success or failure is secondary.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorI am Earl. Archives
May 2024
|