It has been said that it takes ten thousand hours of practice to become an expert. I was not raised with this mindset. My parents never instilled such discipline in me. I only learned of this concept on my own, later in life.

Growing up, I was allowed to flutter about like a butterfly; randomly flying to and fro from flower to flower; staying in the sun, avoiding the dark shadows. As an adult I spent much time lamenting the fact that all of my friends had built good lives around such discipline applied to their passion, while I continued to flutter about. I even spent some time considering my life as wasted.

Recently, however, after surviving through an extended period of hard times without suffering a scratch, a friend commented that I was the most well adapted person he knew for getting by in this world. He envied my ability to move within my environment freely and without presumption. These kind words shifted my perspective.

Slowly, I realized that I had indeed put ten thousand hours of practice in to something. Something very important that very few could ever comprehend. Apparently, being consciously aware of the things we practice is not required.