I wonder if people win an Olympic gold medal . . . and are just like, “Okay, so that’s done. I’m the best in the world at that. What’s next?”
Someone on social media asked, “What’s something that sounds impressive . . . until you’ve actually done it?” Maybe like the gold medals for everyday people. And here are some of the responses:
1. “Running a marathon. Before you do it, it feels like a monumental, almost mythical achievement. Afterwards, you realize it’s just a very long, painful, and boring experience that leaves you with blisters and desperate for a banana.”
2. “Becoming a manager. It sounds like a promotion. But you spend most of your time solving other people’s problems.”
3. “Getting a PhD. Having people call you ‘Dr. Uber Driver’ only goes so far.”
4. “Making a good mushroom parmesan risotto. Skills required: Stirring. Actually, 90% is stirring and waiting, 10% is tasting and seasoning.”
5. “Public speaking. We make it such a big deal . . . but then, after it’s done, [we] think, ‘Oh, that’s it?"”
6. “Building a computer from parts. Honestly, the most impressive part is affording all the parts.”
7. “Marriage.”
8. “Solving a Rubik’s Cube.”
9. “Buying your first house. Seems grown up . . . then the repairs, taxes, and bills hit you hard.”
10. “Excel pivot tables.”
11. “Writing a book. It sounds glamorous, but most of it is rewriting the same paragraph 20 times and doubting yourself.”
12. “Juggling. Three balls, and a weekend, and you’ll be able to juggle.”
13. “Learning how to do backflips.”
14. “Surfing, at least poorly. If you have an instructor to help you pick a wave, you should be able to get up for a few seconds or so within your first hour.”
15. “Tearing a phone book in half.”