Being a Writer is Like Being an Athlete

 

I’ve never met LeBron James or Tom Brady but I think about them frequently (and other athletes of that same hyper-disciplined mindset) as I go about my day.

They’re human beings, with normal, real-life stuff they have to take care of. But they’re also on a mission. That makes them different from most people … and makes their challenges different too.

Serena Williams gunning for #24

If Serena Williams has a match this afternoon on Centre Court at Wimbledon, she still has to eat breakfast. Pick an outfit. Take care of her hair.

Serena has a baby daughter.

She has a husband.

She has people who need her attention.

Commitments.

Obligations.

Real-world stuff to take care of.

But a part of Serena’s mind is on that match this afternoon.

She has an alarm clock in her head that tells her (or maybe it’s her coach) it’s time to suit up, to stretch, to get warm, to volley a few balls. It’s time to switch mental gears. Time to tune out certain wavelengths and tune in to certain others.

I do that too.

My match is not against a living opponent.

It’s not being televised.

I don’t get a paycheck when it’s over.

But my mindset is the same as Serena’s or Tom Brady’s or Cody Bellinger’s.

When the bell sounds, I have to answer it.