WHY IS it that when someone is closest to achieving something, they are prone to hurry up and therefore make mistakes? All at once, memories of childhood come to mind, and often, tiny episodes (such as tripping just before the finish line during a grade school track event or getting one in the eye by a softball) play back in one’s mind, demanding countless replays.
The most telling among these reminiscent periods is the taint of ridicule which accompanies them, and usually, that’s where jokes spring from during later years.
Glad to know that at least such impulsive behavior or complex exists, and it is common in everyone. Especially noticeable in the realm of sports where athletes or others engaged in competition, the German term “Übermut” is the closest to capturing the essence of that sudden urge to hurry and be reckless, as one gets closer to finally achieving a task or a said goal.
These moments of micro decision, wherein throwing caution to the wind, letting go of the safety, and just blindly rushing to the finish line no matter what, are seriously pinpointed by coaches and experts as the critical seconds where one’s complete concentration is needed the most.
Everyone who has gone to school may even be all too familiar with the saying ‘haste makes waste’, and other disciplinary diatribes which teachers liked so much to impart after each slip-up. Unfortunately for older generations, these sadly come with actual punitive actions.
Perhaps this adds to the stress, resulting in one doing a Hail Mary at the last moment. But not strangely, though, the tendency towards übermut always presents itself in daily life, and the urge to be hasty and reckless still consumes and takes over most of us.
What’s new, people say? I guess to bring the subject up now actually deserves a ‘why not’, considering what’s happening all around us today.
Discipline is the key, or impatience kills; again, these have been pounded in our ears since we can remember. And it’s all too loud nowadays.
Our Scout master of long ago once barked, be prepared. And from his cozy mound in the ground, he calls us out again. A classmate, not in so many words, posted in our group chat, “Be wary, gasoline prices will go up, and all else will follow.”
Another from a different group added, Make a list and check it twice, all you’ll need for a long drought. Thinking of the dreaded Übermut, I am once again saying to myself, tripping this time. Can you hear the drums, Fernando?
