Almighty Dad | A stay at home dad blog

 

 

Sometimes I hear my kids say I can’t.  They say it whenever they encounter something particularly difficult.  Instead of saying I’ll try they say I can’t.  They have used it while referring to math problems and reading as well as sporting events and video games.  They tend to run into obstacles and give up.  Obviously, I prefer they persevere and keep trying.  There have been many things in my life that I have felt were impossible, but I kept going anyway.  I haven’t always been successful, but I’ve kept trying.  I have yet to do anything particularly earth shattering, but my life isn’t over yet either.  There are though many examples of people doing great things.  Kids can look to these people for inspiration and to see that they are capable of much more than they might initially think.  Some people have great abilities despite limited resources, and other people have been told no and succeeded anyway.  Either way, these people are inspiration.  I’ve heard kids playing sports say they need new equipment or they won’t be able to perform.  Last week I heard a kid tell his mother that about tennis lessons, that he needed a new tennis racket because his old one wasn’t good enough.  I wonder if that kid could have beaten Jimmy Connors when Connors played with a crappy metal racket in the early 80’s.  Well, here is a list of videos that demonstrate my point.

  

Drum and Bass Street Performer

Kids who demand a new drum set might want to watch this video.  Talent flows not from the device!

  

 

Stand By Me: Playing for Change

An awesome mash of street performers to create one of the coolest song remakes ever.  Most of these guys probably never took a lesson in their lives.  They are probably self taught.

 

 

Seasick Steve on a Three String

This guy has an awesomely crappy three sting guitar and a genuinely primitive stomp box (literally a stomp box!)  The point is that he has done what he loves with the resources at his disposal, and he’s great.

 

 

Roger Bannister

Roger Bannister broke the 4 minute mile running on a dirt track in low tech spikes.  He was the first person to do it at a time when there were experts saying it couldn’t be done.  And he did it with less than 30 miles per week training.  That’s inspirational!

 

 

Zac Sunderland

He made it!

This kid should inspire all kids.  He sailed solo around the world at age 16!  Anybody who knows anything about sailing can attest to the sheer magnitude of that accomplishment.  Look at his little boat.  I’d rather sail with him than on the White Star Line, that’s for sure.

 

 

Tenzing and Hillary Climb Everest

Doctors at the time thought there was a good possibility that climbing Everest was impossible.  They thought a person’s lungs could not handle the strain with or without supplied oxygen.  Tenzing and Hillary thought differently.  These are the sorts of accomplishments to point to when a kid says can’t.

 

 

Connors vs. McEnroe

Both of these guys had years of training and were on the top of their games in 1982.  Their rackets were top of the line equipment by 80’s standards.  The reason I’m showing it is to demonstrate how clean their shots are and how good they are regardless of the equipment.  Show this to a kid who says he needs a 300 dollar racket to be good.  There are few people even today that could beat Connors or McEnroe with their crappy wooden and metal rackets. 

 

 

Chuck Yeager Breaks the Sound Barrier

Scientist said the sound barrier couldn’t be broken.  Obviously it can.  There are times when experts should not be listened to.  When kids do become motivated and decide to accomplish something it’s best to be positive.  Saying can’t as a parent is similar to a scientist telling pilots or other inventors and explorers they can’t do something.  There is always someone who can. 

 

 

There are many other examples of great achievements from people who we think aren’t capable.  There are lots of examples of people doing things with inferior equipment that most people can’t do with the best equipment.  Life, in general, is loaded with naysayers and pessimists.  Don’t let kids be the one’s saying can’t.  They should be the Roger Bannisters, Chuck Yeagers, Christopher Columbuses, and Tenzing Norgays of the world. 

 

I realize I neglected the great women pioneers and artists.  I didn’t do it intentionally.  Wilma Rudolph, Billy Jean King, Sandra Day O’Connor, Joan of Arc, Nadia Comaneci, and Loretta Lynn are to name but a few.

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