Break the Mould

I ordered a few books today that I am interested in, including my first ebook.  I like that I can get the book immediately.  The other books I needed were not in stock, so I have to wait for them.  I reckon ebooks are perfect if it is for me alone.  They are not good to give to someone to read.  I think I have learned about them today.  If a book is for me and me alone, an ebook is the go.  If I want to loan it to someone, a hard copy is a good thing.
The ebook I got was  addressed to kids contemplating career choices, but it seems really good advice for all to me.  The chapter I am looking at addresses three things.  Find your own fit, explore and dream.
I do not know how often I have heard parents wanting their kid to be an accountant or doctor or something, and the kid saying “that is not me.”  It seems I can make it so hard for another to fit into the mould that is them.  I try to force them into a mould that is mine (of course to a certain age kids need direction – take care of the root to produce good fruit).
I see trying to force someone into a mould in sports parents.  Maybe the parent always wanted to be a good tennis player.  They force their kid to play tennis, often not because it is the kids’ passion, but the parent attempts to live their life through them.  I reckon that is particularly hard for a kid because early they tend to worship their parents and want to be just like them.  Only later do they want to be just like themselves.
To me that is why exploring is so important.  They say it is important for a kid early on to participate in a lot of sports.  If there is something they really enjoy they can go for it, but if they have never been there, they will not know it is out there.
That was obvious in table tennis.  There have been a few that played that went on to other sports, but sometimes table tennis was their thing.  What matters to me is that people are free to make their own choices.  Of course, I hope people will chose to stay with my sport, but someone forced to do something is not as likely to do as well as someone who is passionate about it.
I reckon dreaming matters.  Not the sort Dylan sang about, “in order to dream you gotta still be asleep.”   But daydreaming.  Seeing myself doing something and then attempting to make it happen.
To me that was really important when I was young and also now that I am older.  What matters to me is what I see myself doing.  I am less likely to bring out the best in anyone if I am not my best.  I am a unique individual.  The mould I fit best is the mould made for me.