Do you like shortcuts?
I admit, I’m not a fan of them. I know they’re supposed to make life easier … get us where we want to be faster. But inevitably when I take a shortcut, I end up lost. Wondering why I didn’t follow the normal directions and just deal with the it’s-going-to-take-me-longer-to-get-there route.
Sometimes we just have to do it — whatever “it” is we’re trying to achieve. All of it. No shortcuts. No fast tracks. No quick fixes. No instant successes. Just do the work, learn the lessons — the easy ones and the hard ones. We have to succeed and yes, fail, just like everybody else does. Do not pass go — because that’s a shortcut.
- Do you want to be a writer? Learn the rules — and yes, there are rules that will help you be a good writer — and then go ahead and break them. (But only if breaking the rules helps you write a better story).
- Do you want to be an artist? Don’t skip over the basic elements of color and form and whatever else it takes to paint and sketch and design before you decide what your style is. (
And then play around with color and form all you want!) - Do you want to be a speaker? Talk to others you respect and find out how they became such inspiring speakers. Don’t just walk up on stage, grab the mike, and open your mouth and say what you have to say. (Because no one would do that, right? But some people come close.)
We should never confuse forging a new path with a shortcut. Those are two very different things. Forging a new path involves being brave enough to go our own way — without making excuses or shirking responsibilities or shrinking back from hard work. Taking shortcuts can be all about choosing the easy way out — and missing the wisdom from much-needed lessons learned along the way.
In Your Words: What do you think about taking shortcuts in life? Can they lead us anywhere worthwhile?
[ctt template=”8″ link=”fNha0″ via=”yes” ]In Others\’ Words: Don\’t Take the Shortcut http://wp.me/p63waO-2ji #InOthersWords #quotes #noshortcuts [/ctt] [ctt template=”8″ link=”8fQ4l” via=”yes” ]\”There are no shortcuts to any place worth going.\” http://wp.me/p63waO-2ji #quotes #BeverlySills #noshortcuts [/ctt]
Comments 9
Usually get a shortcut in summer. Keeps the bugs out of my hair.
Now that’s out of the way…there are some shortcuts worth taking. In math, there are some problems you can’t easily solve (or solve at all) in their normal x-y Cartesian coordinates, so you can use something called a transfer function (the Fourier transform is perhaps the best known) to render the problem more easily solved – you transform the original equation into transform-space, solve it, and do a reverse transform to get the answer correct in its original reference frame.
It’s like a paradigm shift, and I think it can have analogies in other areas. For example, painting – you need to understand accurate drawing, perspective, and chiaroscuro to be able to turn out realistic landscapes, but there are some shortcuts one can take in depicting them. For instance, contrast is softened by distance, so instead of worrying about the accurate drawing of hills in the background, they can be represented by blue-green masses that are very close in value to the sky. Contrast ‘pops’ an draws the eye, so you want to make that far horizon something that, to the eye, recedes.
Another math example is the use of approximate solutions to solve differential equations used in engineering – a closed form (exact and mathematically rigorous) solution may exist, but the increase in precision over an approximate solution is not worth the time it takes.
For a bridge or building, knowing stresses that arise from external forces within 10% is pretty good; and you can use shortcuts to get there, and thereby save the client money with no loss of reliability.
Author
Andrew,
I understand your point — although I go all “white noise” when it comes to math — but even with mathematical or artistic shortcuts you have to know the usual way of doing things before you can take advantage of the shortcuts, as you yourself stated.
True, to a point. To use a Fourier transform you have to be able to recognize that an equation is too tough to solve in natural coordinates – but you don’t have to know how to do it. That’s the domain of academics.
Another great post–you never run out and keep coming up with fresh meaningful ones.
So far spontaneous shortcuts have been my friend and though one accidentally crossing into war-torn East Jerusalem (marked only with sand bags which I thought were for construction), resulted in me encountering tear gas, it also led to an unforgettable story and rescue I’ll never forget because God is always on the job, whether we take short or full-distance long cuts. Wishing and praying for you to have happy progress during your going dark days. Can’t wait to read it also.
Author
Dee:
I know how you live life: Anything and everything always becomes a good story and usually results in new adventures and new friends!
Although I enjoy discovering shortcuts around town, I’ve learned that trying to take/create shortcuts in life ends up in failure, more often than not. And they often lead me to places in my thoughts that are not healthy.
So, although being intentional about learning necessary lessons takes longer and feels harder in the short run, these are the best things for leading to success, and depth in the long run.
Great thoughts, Beth!
Author
Sometimes I intentionally take the longer way around town because, while a shortcut is, yes, shorter — the longer way is less stressful for me. Less congested with cars. Less marked with potholes. Or the scenery is nicer.
All good reasons, too, to go the longer route.
Like you, shortcuts always end up taking more time, whether it’s on the road or in life. 🙂 We have to do the hard stuff. There’s no way around it.