I also agree about the physique thing. I’ll never be the best in the world at many of the things I like, but I could be enormously better at them than I am right now. And it’s not necessarily about reaching your ultimate potential, it’s more about recognizing that the things really limiting you aren’t what you think they are. For instance, I like bouldering, but it’s pretty far down my list of priorities and I need massive legs for squatting, so I’ll never be very good at it. But I enjoy it, so that’s fine.

I started thinking about how broadly this might apply and couldn’t help thinking of the “talent” show contestants and their frequent protestations of intense desire. They claim that they really really really “want this”. Often how much it means to them is about all they’ve got to say for themselves.

Often, I believe they really do care.

Don’t say you can’t do what you want: admit that you don’t care enough.

Very often you’re right. People make excuses. Other times there is an element of natural talent or physique that comes into it. We are not born blank slates, egalitarian though it might sound. We have different body shapes that limit what we can realistically do. No amount of wanting or belief or hard work will make a man of my stature a top basketball player. It shouldn’t be that surprising if our brains aren’t all the same either.

But yeah, that’s no excuse for, erm, excuses. People just have to play to their strengths. Perhaps it’s about reaching your potential or not giving a shit?