Learning From People Like and Not Like Us

I have a friend named Peter. His sport of choice is Jujitsu.

Peter is a big man training in a gym led by a small man. He's not small in accomplishment, character, or expertise—he’s just eight inches shorter and 90 lbs. lighter than Peter. At some point, he probably needs to go train with someone more his size.

Many years ago, I took up golf. I trained with a small woman. The same caveats apply: She was technically brilliant, a short-game genius, and a wonderful person, and six inches shorter and 60 lbs. lighter than me. I learned a lot from her.

A few years into my golf adventures, I took a few lessons from a man who was my size and build. He made a few changes to my swing, and I instantly picked up at least 25 yards. For a time, I could even hit a 1 Iron.

I’ve mentioned in other posts I used to teach motorcycle riding. For the basics, differences in body type don’t matter. When you up the pace, especially on the track, how you’re built, how you move, and how flexible you are all matter.

It’s been my experience that there is no best or right way to do practically anything. Especially things that involve our bodies (checking to see if there’s anything not on that list). We have much to learn from people “not like” us. We have much to learn from people a lot like us.

Maybe the trick is to figure out what it means to be like and not alike.

Once you do, seek both.