“Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.” – Arthur Ashe
This quote from the late Arthur Ashe should make us pause and explore the true depth of our own beginnings and capabilities. Ashe was a trailblazer in the tennis world and the first African-American to compete at the international level. His own story embodies the essence of this quote: starting where you are with what you have. Considering how he spent his 49 years on this earth, we can learn much from his example.
This quote sounds like common sense, but it’s deceptively simple wisdom. You can only start where you are, and you can only use what you have. Most importantly, you can only do what you can. So, today, we closely inspect this neatly packaged nugget of wisdom. Through Ashe’s legacy, we’re invited to ponder the inherent humor and wit in the human condition, where our starting points and resources, no matter how humble or grand, hold the potential to propel us toward unforeseen destinies.
Your Starting Point Should Be Your Advantage, Not Your Disadvantage
Most of us would likely enjoy the idea of choosing our own beginnings and circumstances of birth, like we’re playing a role playing game. But, instead, we should see our starting points in the world, no matter how vastly different, as like the opening scenes of a play, rich with unscripted potential. No matter how modest or privileged our origins may seem, Ashe suggests that we shine a spotlight on the peculiar advantages of our beginnings. In fact, what may appear to be disadvantages may in fact become your greatest advantages.
Arthur Ashe is a particularly fine example of this notion. After all, his own inception in the annals of tennis history was marked by societal disadvantage. Being the first African-American to swing a racket on the international stage, Ashe’s starting point was a testament to the transformative power of embracing his origins. What society deemed a disadvantage, Ashe wielded as a tool of change, leveraging his unique position to challenge and redefine norms. His journey illustrates the absurdity in our common lamentations over our own starting points. Our beginnings, however fraught with challenges, can be catalysts for extraordinary achievements.
In Ashe’s case, he used his standing as an African-American to a definite advantage. As the only black man to ever win Wimbledon, Ashe brought awareness to extremely important social issues, such as poverty and racial stereotyping. Beyond tennis, he became a prominent speaker. So, while he did start at a disadvantage in the eyes of society, Ashe launched both a successful tennis career and another as a social activist.
Sure, you can’t change where you start from. But, you can very well change where you will go going forward. Each of us starts with certain advantages and disadvantages no matter our status. It’s important to understand that there are both advantages and disadvantages to every starting point, even if the former aren’t always obvious. Identifying those hidden advantages are an important step in beginning any endeavor.
Unfortunately, the narrative often fed to us is that starting at a disadvantage is a hurdle too high to overcome. This causes many of us to become steeped in defeatism and resignation. Yet, Ashe’s life story is a deft subversion of this self-defeating narrative. He turned it on its head to showcase that every starting line, no matter its location, is a springboard for potential greatness. It’s inspiring how one’s perceived disadvantage can become a powerful tool, a source of motivation, and a unique vantage point from which to approach life’s myriad challenges.
Sadly, the unexpected advantages we could derive from our starting points often go unrecognized, lost in the cacophony of societal expectations and comparisons. Our collective blindness to this potential is stunning. While we’re quick to bemoan or boast about our origins, we’re yet painfully slow to harness the latent power within them. Embracing where we come from, with all its peculiarities and unique challenges, is akin to finding hidden treasure in our backyard. It’s overlooked by the common observer, quite yet invaluable to those who seek out and find it.
So, we must laugh at the irony of our preconceived notions about starting points and find humor in our collective oversight. Let’s embrace Ashe’s wisdom in using our unique beginnings as a leverage point for growth and innovation. Ashe’s life story isn’t just a chronicle of success against odds, but a beacon which illuminates advantages hidden within the very place we often wish to escape: our own starting point.
Identifying the Skills You Need to Follow Your Passions
Ironically, while we strive to keep our passions aloft, we often underestimate the breadth of our arsenal of skills. This is because in the grand scheme of things, we often focus on just one or two skills, fearing that adding more will lead to a chaotic tumble. Yet, true success is often hidden behind the realization that the more skill building we do, the more adept we become at performing at our core tasks.
No skill that’s learned or mastered is wasted effort. However, we must strive to build skills that are complimentary to our goals. Knowledge and understanding of seemingly unrelated topics and fields can become applicable in ways you would never expect. But, you have to recognize how what you’ve learned can apply to the things you care about.
So, the act of harnessing our full potential is rarely found in the pursuit of a singular passion. While it may seem noble to dedicate yourself in such a single-minded fashion, it’s often a shortsighted approach because inevitably we may well ignore the eclectic array of skills at our fingertips. Instead, we must harness our abundant talents, no matter how absurd they might seem. We should explore their capacities with the curiosity of a cat. Only then can we discover the unexpected ways they can interconnect and elevate our main passions.
A good example of this is someone who’s striving to become a star baseball player. This figurative player, who’s constantly honing specific talents like batting, pitching, base-running, or fielding might view these as the be-all and end-all of their craft. However, exploring other interests and building skills in those areas — even those seemingly unrelated to baseball like swimming or chess — can enhance the player’s game in unexpected ways. Skills that seem peripheral to our main passions can, in fact, be the ones that elevate us to new heights, offering a panoramic view of our potential.
One excellent real-life example of this is Mookie Betts, who in the midst of becoming an All-Star level baseball player, pursued professional bowling in the offseason. While you might just think of it as another competitive game for Mookie to keep himself in a winning mindset, there’s more to it. I’m not sure if this is why Betts chose to pursue bowling at such a high level, but it turns out that bowling is a game that’s all in the wrists and forearms. Wrist and forearm strength is also extremely important as a hitter in baseball. Ever since he rose the ranks in bowling, his baseball skills, especially at the plate, have increased by significant margins, too. While he’d been bowling since a young age, I don’t believe it’s a coincidence that Betts bowled a perfect 300 in 2017, then had a career baseball year in 2018.
Focusing too narrowly on our perceived “main” skills can blind us to the wealth of abilities we possess. Like a treasure chest of talents, each skill we acquire adds to our repertoire, waiting to be deployed in the most unforeseen, and sometimes hilarious, circumstances. The arsenal of skills we accumulate isn’t just a list on our resume, but a veritable Swiss Army knife of capabilities, ready to surprise, delight, and serve us in the multifaceted adventure of life.
You Can Only Do What You Can
This is the most important part: you really can only do what you really can. Back to our figurative aspiring ballplayer, it’s likely time for him or her to face a sad truth that they simply might not have the physical skills necessary. A lack of physical flexibility may lead to chronic injuries while playing or limits to hand-eye coordination can make hitting the baseball a chore. Not everyone can rise to the highest level of competition like Ashe did in his own sport of tennis. Sometimes, determination and hard practice can help you to overcome physical limitations. But if you can’t perform, then you can’t.
That isn’t the end of a baseball career, of course. Even a player who has limitations at hitting can still provide value in the field or on the bases. Even talented players have their strengths and weaknesses, which coaches identify and assign “natural” positions to these individuals. There are also players that simply make themselves indispensable as “utility” players who mastered multiple field positions. They could provide value in a pinch, even if they’re not great hitters or baserunners.
Just like these utility players who stick around in baseball organizations year-after-year, it’s best to try playing everywhere you can. Diversifying your skill set makes you a better player in the short term, but versatility beyond baseball can also make you a more valuable human being in the long run.
For many, the realization that they cannot achieve a specific dream, like becoming a professional baseball player, is a bitter pill swallowed in the twilight of their efforts. But ironically, it’s often through acknowledging our limitations that we discover new paths, ripe with unexplored potential. These limitations, then, transform from a barrier into a directional arrow, pointing us toward alternative avenues where our passions and existing skills can flourish in unexpected ways.
Let’s propose that our limitations, much like the edges of a map, mark the beginning of uncharted territories rather than the end of our journey. Sure, not everyone will reach the pinnacle of their chosen field, no matter the depth of their passion or the rigor of their dedication. But, these limitations aren’t simply stop signs, but also can serve to guideposts leading us to other opportunities we may not have previously considered.
Talent isn’t everything. Just like it’s good to try out all the different positions in baseball, diversifying your activities helps you become a well-rounded person. For example, playing a completely different sport could teach you training methods that you wouldn’t ever connect to baseball. Those methods may enhance the skills that you already have excelled in previously, bringing you to a new level of mastery.
You can also study how coaches from all sorts of sports motivate (or demotivate) other players. This can help you to understand what motivational methods work best for you. These you may later use to help motivate your teammates and peers, as well. Turn your passion into something that can do a lot of good for others. In the end, this is often the best way to build the skills to help you succeed.
How can failing at your life dream actually be for the better? What you do next is find something related to your passion. In the case of baseball, this could include working in a baseball front office. It could be working in sports marketing or sports writing. You then take all you’ve learned through your failures and successes. Share those experiences and those skills you worked on to help others.
This is why so many “failed” players become valuable, sought-after coaches or commentators in their respective sports. While that’s likely where our figurative ballplayer will end up, that’s nothing to be ashamed of at all. In fact, our newly minted coach or analyst will likely lead to helping another aspiring ballplayer reach their potential. There are few things better in life than helping to coach others. You can be a coach in anything, believe it or not. Arthur Ashe used his relatively short life to great advantage, becoming a life coach using his own story as a basis. He really did all he could.
How to Make the Best of Your Limitations
As is the standard for these “Chronicles of Absurdia,” we now turn to summarizing actionable advice to take away from Ashe’s example. What are the tangible steps we away from our exploration of skills, talents, and capabilities?
First and foremost, just as Ashe suggests, embrace your starting point with humor and grace. Recognize and accept where you are starting from. Whether it’s a place of privilege or hardship, see it as the first scene in your own unique comedy of life. Laugh at the absurdity of circumstance and use it as a springboard for your journey. Acknowledge your roots, the peculiarities of your beginning, and use them as strengths rather than lamenting them as weaknesses.
Second, explore and expand your arsenal of skills, no matter how absurdly disparate they may seem. Diversify your skills with the playful curiosity of an artist exploring new mediums. Don’t just focus on the skills directly related to your main passions. Instead, venture into new territories, learn from different disciplines, and connect seemingly unrelated dots. This could mean a lawyer taking dance classes or a scientist exploring poetry. The idea is to build a broad and somewhat absurd skill set that enhances your main pursuits in unexpected and innovative ways.
Third, redirect when faced with limitations. Acknowledge your limitations, not with resignation, but with the wit of a seasoned playwright who knows when to introduce a twist in the plot. When you hit a wall, instead of viewing it as a dead end, look for the door that’s often hidden in plain sight. This is what we often refer to as pivoting; it may require shifting your path or finding alternative ways to channel your passion and skills.
Fourth, cultivate an above-average sense of adaptability. In the face of life’s unpredictable swings, learn to pivot with a smile. This means being open to change, ready to laugh at surprises, and skilled at turning setbacks into stepping stones.
Finally, share your journey and grow with others. Again, in the spirit of Ashe, and coincidentally also these Chronicles, share your stories of navigating life’s absurdities with others. Mentorship and collaboration not only enhance your own journey, but also contribute to a larger community seeking growth and resilience. By helping others, you amplify the joy of living, creating ripples of impact that extend far beyond your own storyline.
Navigating the absurdity of life is about embracing the unexpected, laughing in the face of adversity, and continuously evolving. By adopting these actionable steps Ashe laid out in his inspirational talks, we can all become adept players in the grand, bizarre, and wonderfully absurd theatre of existence.
Closing Thoughts
As we wind down this essay, I have a few final thoughts stemming from Ashe’s straightforward yet poignant wisdom. This final passage is a chance to muse over the serpentine path we tread in the quest for meaning and fulfillment in a world that often defies logic and expectation.
One of these lingering thoughts is an urge to remember that you need to use your yesterdays as learning experiences, not burdens to be treated as baggage. Another is to stop wasting your time trying to improve at something you’re not able to. Recognizing that is the hardest part.
I hope this exploration of Ashe’s quote has helped you to reframe your own limitations not as tragic endings but as comedic twists in our storyline, where the finale of one act is the prologue to another. The absurdity of our limitations isn’t in their existence, but in our perception of them as finalities rather than transitions. They’re integral parts of our life journey that propel us toward new horizons.
As we pivot from the paths we can’t travel successfully, we uncover routes previously hidden from view, each with its own set of adventures and potential for growth. So, doing what you can isn’t an admission of defeat; it’s a declaration of our ability to find humor and possibility in the face of our limitations.
Personal growth isn’t a linear ascent but a spiraling dance, one that intertwines the comic with the tragic, the trivial with the profound. Our growth is punctuated by moments of absurdity, where the unexpected becomes the norm, and that norm is perpetually questioned. Growth is more than achieving predefined goals; it’s about expanding the very horizons of what we deem possible and meaningful.
After all, contribution is the natural companion to growth. Our individual narratives, replete with their peculiarities and idiosyncrasies, are chapters in a larger story of communal evolution. By contributing our unique perspectives and talents, we both enrich our own lives and also enhance the collective human experience. It’s a beautiful paradox: in giving, we receive; in teaching, we learn; and in sharing, we multiply our joys and diminish our sorrows.
In the end, the arsenal of skills we possess is more than a toolkit for personal success. It gives us a palette for painting a life full of color, laughter, and the joy of unexpected discovery. As we navigate through our passions, we must recognize the vast potential that lies within us, waiting to be harnessed in all its glorious and whimsical complexity.
In anything that you do, make sure that you’re always growing and refining your skills. Someday you may find yourself in a position to mentor others in your own passions. By helping others that share your passions, you’ll find your own passions will grow, as well. Remember to turn your disadvantages into advantages. Furthermore, try to turn your advantages into boons for not only yourself, but everyone around you.
~ Amelia Desertsong
