Is It Worth It?

Vincent,
I know where you're coming from.

Being 16 can be tough sometimes. Some people view you as an adult while others view you as a kid. Kinda confusing sometimes, huh?

Is it worth it? Only you can answer that one.

I played pool simply because I loved it but there were times in my life when my personal problems had my world on tilt. What I found was by playing pool allowed me to concentrate on something besides my problems in the outside world. It gave my brain a chance to check out for a while, the old R & R (rest and relaxation).

It also gave me a sense of accomplishment as each day I would try to learn somthing new at the table. (A new bank shot, a 3 rail kicking system, etc.) One of the great things about this sport is there is always something new to learn.

Vincent, as far as friends go, you seems like a sensible person with a good heart, just a little down right now. There is a tendency to stand off and be a loner because having been uprooted with your parent's divorce and your mother's breakup with her boyfriend. The feeling of "why bother to get to know someone" creeps in with the fear of only to have others let you down.

What the other posters have stated about looking yourself in the mirror and knowing you are a good person is true. Along with that, the old saying, "Birds of a feather, flock together." rings true. Good people will see what you are made of and be attracted to you. Just give them a chance and here's the big one, GIVE YOURSELF A CHANCE!

Good luck, young man, and remember we're a pretty tight community around here. You may not be able to see us but as you can see by the responses to your thread, we'll listen.

Take care.
 
Methodman201 said:
I'll start off with a short intro on my life and the sport so you can grasp the full aspect of the situation.

My name is Vincent(Vinnie), From st.Augustine, Florida.
I have lived just outside of town pretty much my entire life of 16 years.
Just a little after I turned 13 my parents split-up(The norm these days,lol)
I diden't do much for fun up untill that point.

Shortly after my Parents split-up I would go with me mum on the weekends and dad on the weekdays. I would travel to Edgewater, Florida to meet up with her boyfriend Johnny Lucas(Lucas Surfboards).
There I met many great surfers, Oldies but goodies.
I also learned to shape Boards and play pool.

Not too long ago they split up, I Found myself back to where I started. I had nothing to do but play pool.
I have been very serious about my game since I started playing.
I go to school and play pool, Thats it, nothing more.
The thing is, I am a Loner, Have abit of OCD, And Find myself exactly where I started again.

I have put everything I *had* in the sport and have Grown Faster, Stronger and better than Most local players.........
I Now Find Myself Asking Myself And Others, Is It Worth It?
Is Striving To Be The Best At The Game Really Worth All the money spent, the long grueling hours at the hall, Green hands, Smelling of smoke, Mental games, and lack of Friends Really Worth It?

I just want to see what You have to say.
-Vinnie
Click to expand...


I'm really sorry to here that, I personally have made some great friends playing pool. I spend time outside the pool room / bar with them. Vacation, pool tournaments, playing cards and going to dinner and a movie with each other (there spouses or girlfriends). There is more to life than the game and in reality I sometimes shoot alot better after being away from the room a week or so.
 
If its and addiction, then embrace it and go along for the ride, you don't know where you'll end up. This game parallels life and will make you or break you down, but it'll form your true character. Pool equals life in every way, don't quit school make it the other 1/2 of your life and down the road you'll be a better and happier person and a good woman will come along. Stay away from drugs and alcohol.
 
Methodman201 said:
" Welcome to the journey."
-JoeyA

A Fool Wonders, A Wiseman Travels.
I can assume that It will be long but worth it.
Click to expand...

If your desire is to be the best in the world, then pursue it! You are at an age where your mind and body are elastic and more importantly, you do not yet have the outside obligatoins of career, mate, children, etc. to contend with. If your desire is to be a professional player, the hours at the table are not only worth it, they are indispensable.

As important as it is for your to spend the necessary time at the table, it is even more important for you to have a life! There is little value, in my opinion, to having a one-dimensional life. The most truly pitiful spectacle is an ex-poolplayer who had absolutely nothing else happening in his/her life. Having other interests and activities will not only make you a more well-rounded person, but it can also positively affect your game. Efren's love of chess for example, certainly helps his ability to outmove everyone else in one-pocket.

Continue on your path and pursue your dream, but stop to smell the roses and enjoy the sunsets along the way
 
??????????

Only if you get satisfaction an enjoyment out of it. When it starts feeling like a job an if your feeling burn out take a break. When you come back you might not have to ask that question. Playing pool is not a requirement of life.
Pinocchio
 
Methodman201 said:
I'll start off with a short intro on my life and the sport so you can grasp the full aspect of the situation.

My name is Vincent(Vinnie), From st.Augustine, Florida.
I have lived just outside of town pretty much my entire life of 16 years.
Just a little after I turned 13 my parents split-up(The norm these days,lol)
I diden't do much for fun up untill that point.

Shortly after my Parents split-up I would go with me mum on the weekends and dad on the weekdays. I would travel to Edgewater, Florida to meet up with her boyfriend Johnny Lucas(Lucas Surfboards).
There I met many great surfers, Oldies but goodies.
I also learned to shape Boards and play pool.

Not too long ago they split up, I Found myself back to where I started. I had nothing to do but play pool.
I have been very serious about my game since I started playing.
I go to school and play pool, Thats it, nothing more.
The thing is, I am a Loner, Have abit of OCD, And Find myself exactly where I started again.

I have put everything I *had* in the sport and have Grown Faster, Stronger and better than Most local players.........
I Now Find Myself Asking Myself And Others, Is It Worth It?
Is Striving To Be The Best At The Game Really Worth All the money spent, the long grueling hours at the hall, Green hands, Smelling of smoke, Mental games, and lack of Friends Really Worth It?

I just want to see what You have to say.
-Vinnie
Click to expand...

No, it is not worth it.

You've certainly paid your dues as a player, and pool will probably be a part of you for the remainder of your life, but if pool has made you socially detached, even socially dysfuncitonal, you have paid too big a price for your excellence over the glorious green felt.

You are still young and you still have time to develop your interpersonal and communicative skills. My suspicion is that you've matured sufficiently as a pool player, but not as a young man, and from your post, it seems that you sense this, too.

My recommendation is that you get out of the pool hall (or, at least, reduce your hours in the pool hall dramatically) for a while and make some friends and get a greater taste of life. It won't be long now until you have some very big decisions to make in your life, and I fear you'll be ill-equipped to make them unless you do this.

When you've had a greater sampling of life, you'll know whether the price you must pay to attain excellence over the glorious green felt is one worth paying.

I must note that your decision to make this post was, to me, most impressive. You are right in seeing yourself at a crossroads.

Whatever decision you make, I wish you everything good in pool and in life.
 
It won't be the first time you ask the question but if youre a pool animal, you have to do it. It becomes automatic. Automatic response to the situation. Whatever situation. Go and shoot pool imo :cool: Yeah, it is worth it but don't neglect your real life.
 
sjm said:
No, it is not worth it.

You've certainly paid your dues as a player, and pool will probably be a part of you for the remainder of your life, but if pool has made you socially detached, even socially dysfuncitonal, you have paid too big a price for your excellence over the glorious green felt.

You are still young and you still have time to develop your interpersonal and communicative skills. My suspicion is that you've matured sufficiently as a pool player, but not as a young man, and from your post, it seems that you sense this, too.

My recommendation is that you get out of the pool hall (or, at least, reduce your hours in the pool hall dramatically) for a while and make some friends and get a greater taste of life. It won't be long now until you have some very big decisions to make in your life, and I fear you'll be ill-equipped to make them unless you do this.

When you've had a greater sampling of life, you'll know whether the price you must pay to attain excellence over the glorious green felt is one worth paying.

I must note that your decision to make this post was, to me, most impressive. You are right in seeing yourself at a crossroads.

Whatever decision you make, I wish you everything good in pool and in life.
Click to expand...

Great advice. Pool isn't everything.
 
sjm said:
No, it is not worth it.

You are still young and you still have time to develop your interpersonal and communicative skills.

My recommendation is that you get out of the pool hall (or, at least, reduce your hours in the pool hall dramatically) for a while and make some friends and get a greater taste of life. It won't be long now until you have some very big decisions to make in your life, and I fear you'll be ill-equipped to make them unless you do this.

When you've had a greater sampling of life, you'll know whether the price you must pay to attain excellence over the glorious green felt is one worth paying.

I must note that your decision to make this post was, to me, most impressive. You are right in seeing yourself at a crossroads.

Whatever decision you make, I wish you everything good in pool and in life.
Click to expand...

SJM, you make a lot of sense and the truth at least for me is that pool is a great "distraction" and pastime.

Pool should not be the center of your universe but there are worse things that one can do than allowing it to be next favorite in line.

A young man's priorities should include religion, family, friends, education, occupation and distractions. Pleasure can be gained from all of these and skills in interpersonal relationships will be gained from all of these. It's best to invest quality effort and time in all of these but experience is and will always remain the best teacher of life's important lessons.

It is up to each man/woman to work out their own salvation.

What might be good for you and me may not be good for Vinnie. I am impressed with the compassion of this group and the wisdom bestowed at Vinnie's feet and like you, think Vinnie is wise beyond his years.

So Vinnie, whatever you do with pool or without pool, make sure you get and keep a real job. :-)

A wise pool hall owner, Al Morales once told all of us young guys, "A pool player's life is like that of a fox; chicken today and feathers tomorrow."

Pool will likely never pay all of your bills no matter how good you get and depriving the other priorities of your quality time, could result in unreplaceable opportunitites.

If you allow pool to be one of your back-burner personal "distractions", it could make your dreams that much sweeter.
JoeyA
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top