Life Lessons Through Footbag

mosher · Post by **mosher** » 28 Nov 2008 02:09

I know I haven't been around here a lot lately, but that doesn't mean that footbag and what it taught me have been forgotten.

I feel grateful that I found footbag because it taught me how to learn shit and subsequently I've had great luck learning many new things, including more footbag! haha

I guess all I wanted to talk about was the ways in which footbag has helped us to be awesomer people.

I think the most important lesson it taught me was to be able to execute tricks in the heat of the moment based on focusing and just doing it correctly. And knowing what exactly to do comes from practice, and footbag taught me how to do that and the vital importance of it in learning anything. I guess next comes experience points, muscle memory and the ability to hit shit on command.

I credit footbag with my success in bike tricks.

So, thoughts?

C-Fan · Post by **C-Fan** » 28 Nov 2008 05:44

I think the most important thing I've learned from footbag is controlling my emotional state (my "mental game").

As recently as 4 years ago, I would regularly have sessions where I would get so frustrated that I would lose my ability to play well or have fun. Even if I did end up hitting whatever was frustrating me, the session wouldn't be fun, and I worried I was making footbag less fun for others. Eventually I learned to control my frustration, and that made me have more fun and play better. I've since applied this to other parts of my life (driving on the highway, rude people on the street, etc). Now when something pisses me off I ask myself: "will getting angry help me in this situation? Is it worth getting worked up over this?" And if the answer is no, I don't get angry, and I feel a lot better about things.

I fully credit this to my experience with footbag.

mosher · Post by **mosher** » 28 Nov 2008 10:21

Cool, thanks for the response Ken. That's exactly the kind of stuff I was interested in hearing about.

gMoney · Post by **gMoney** » 28 Nov 2008 10:29

Especially seeing all the negative comments on youtube and such, I've learned to be more opened minded towards things that I might not particularly like, but that others might.

Footbag was also one of the first things that I've had to put a vast amount of effort in. Since I taught myself to play, it was more or less me just figuring out different techniques for learning to play and improve more efficiently. I've carried that into a lot of things, like guitar playing and chess and a couple more of my hobbies.

There's probably more I can't think of right now.

Wasabi · Post by **Wasabi** » 28 Nov 2008 12:46

Footbag has taught me to see, listen and think carefully for myself.

I've always had frustrating sessions, whether it be with people or by myself. However, if I take the time to consider what is frustrating me specifically, what are the obstacles that I want to pass in that moment, and how I should execute it properly, my focus and understanding becomes more clearer in reaching my goals. And from there, even if I do fail at reaching my goals in any session, I've had fun playing and learned what it is that is keeping me from progressing.

I also enjoy the influence that footbag has over people, over an audience. The more I play carefully, the more I feel that people are watching and enjoying what I am doing with my feet.

And not to be a racist or anything, but being an Asian American that plays footbag is an empowering factor for me as well, both culturally and regionally. I feel that the more people that watch me play could help motivate more Asians / Asian Americans like myself to take up footbag more seriously - rather than being the person that half-heartedly kicks in any a hack circle, or watching silently but not engaging in the sport. For me, in this aspect, footbag is a power that recategorizes what is too normative, and is the icebreaker that tears down the boundary of timidness within the public sphere.

CIC flurry · Post by **CIC flurry** » 29 Nov 2008 14:59

I've learn a bit of leadership through footbag, by having to set up events and sessions and coordinate people. I used to have the luxury of others doing it for me and just being able to show up (late), but the torch gets passed or shared and I had to step up a scoatch and Do It.

Jeremy · Post by **Jeremy** » 29 Nov 2008 20:05

I think the really important lesson I've learnt through footbag is that if you think something needs doing, take the task on yourself before expecting other people to do it. I take the initiative a lot more with things now than I used to and I'm much more focused on real outcomes to problems, rather than just "making an effort" or symbolic outcomes.

dyalander · Post by **dyalander** » 30 Nov 2008 18:23

I guess I already knew this so footbag didn't really tech me this lesson, but it confirmed that natural talent can only take you so far, and that to really master something you need to mix good advice from experts with careful self-evaluation.
When I first started I didn't really feel the desire to master the sport so I just chased big tricks that were well beyond my capabilities becasue I'd be happy to just fluke something cool. But over time, I really wanted to learn and master stuff and had to become more disciplined and structured in my approach. I've found this in other pursuits as well.

Cnick946 · Post by **Cnick946** » 30 Nov 2008 18:30

It's not really a life lesson, but I guess it is. Take a footbag with you wherever you go. It will ease your pain of boredom. My sister went into labor last night, of course, during the night. There was a T.V., but of course, nothing was on. I was very bored, then all of a sudden I remembered, I brought my footbag. I trained in the waiting room all night and through the morning.

Jeremy · Post by **Jeremy** » 30 Nov 2008 19:17

Congratulations, you're an uncle!

Cnick946 · Post by **Cnick946** » 30 Nov 2008 19:30

Thanks!

Iron Clad Ben · Post by **Iron Clad Ben** » 09 Dec 2008 21:20

While there are many things it has taught me, one important one that has not been mentioned yet:

Footbag has taught me to "enjoy the process".
Enjoy learning
Enjoy failing
Enjoy succeeding
Enjoy the tiniest amount of progress
Enjoy the anticipation before a big footbag event

It's a journey, not a destination. Enjoy the ride along the way.

Kljopa · Post by **Kljopa** » 21 Dec 2008 13:08

I learned that i can do anything if i want to.
Learning is a better word even.Like nothing is impossible.