I’d heard of the Stanford marshmallow experiment conducted in 1972 when I was in my mid twenties. The test being they would give a young child a marshmallow and if they would wait for a certain period of time until they ate it they would get two. If they didn’t wait to eat the one marshmallow they would only get the one. It was said to measure the child’s capacity for a bunch of positive attributes as well as success later in life. The test revealed a lot. It experiment was challenged in 2020 which revealed more interesting things but that’s another blog.
When I was young I was a one marshmallow kid. When I got things I would consume them and use them up quickly. I admit that as an adult I’m often still this way. I don’t always ration and have been know to order dessert first at a restaurant stating that I might die before the end of my meal so I didn’t think it was smart to wait that long. (True story)
I guess my approach to a lot of things in life were to enjoy what I could and get them over with. I was a quarter mile drag race kind of guy and not much of a formula 1 individual. I did much better with tasks that required shorter time domains. I would seek cathartic experiences that had a crescendo of energy. I was impatient and didn’t like to wait. I was usually frustrated. I liked big action and executed on things without thinking them through. It was reckless but it kept me from settling into longer, deeper experiences with myself and others.
Throughout life I’ve matured. (Somewhat) I’ve come to appreciate the attributes required for accomplishing goals with longer time domains. Vision. Commitment. Tenacity. Patience. Most of them I’ve successfully cultivated and reaped the benefits that they award. I’ve come to develop my green thumb and can plant seeds, water them, and nurture them into a bountiful garden.
The opportunity:
Where in your life do you need to be more of a gardener?
Where in your life do you need to quit using a wrecking ball?
Thanks for your time, have a great day!
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanford_marshmallow_experiment