Twenty-One Inches

By Bobby Vance

It could be the width of a seat, the length of a newborn baby, the size of a TV or Computer Monitor. To me, however, it’s one of those little things that represents how I approach a project or a task. Allow me to explain.

 Call me weird if you must, but I still mow my own yard with a walk-behind mower; well almost. Full disclosure here, it is a self-propelled, battery powered, rear bagger; I’m ambitious, not foolish! I know that at my age pushing a mower around for an hour and a half each week could be anything but therapeutic.

 Spending most of my adult life in the lawn sprinkler business, I’ve certainly seen my fair share of grass and have literally designed and installed sprinkler systems to water thousands of acres of turfgrass. From postage stamp sized, zero-lot line homes to parks and athletic fields all across South and Central Texas.

 One of the things that always seems to get my attention is that one lawn that is meticulously manicured, well landscaped, weed-free and healthy. I know how much time, effort and care goes into it and it’s one of those things I truly have come to appreciate. Hence the purpose of this blog. Now understand I am one of those people who strive to have a nice lawn even though this past year we have experienced temperatures from 0 to over 100 degrees and the stress that places on grass is challenging to say the least. As March winds down, I’m excited to actually see something that resembles green in the yard along with enough growth that required the first mowing of the year.

 As I cut the grass, I thought about how real craftsmen approach their trades, taking time to carefully execute their work in an effort to deliver a stellar service or product. For me, cutting that grass, back and forth, twenty-one inches at a time was my way of approaching “craftsman status” to deliver the best results I possibly could, knowing that I would have to rinse and repeat next week, and the weeks that follow. Now perhaps no one else appreciates my efforts, but every time I drive in my driveway or spend time on the patio, I have a sense of pride and accomplishment for a job well done.

 I see this same work ethic in many of the young Athletes on our Acro Teams. Most of whom spend countless hours in the gym refining their craft, building stamina and learning new routines. Running pass after pass to get their tumbling down to perfection and working towards the next step in the line of progression. Executing these skills takes time, determination and the desire to be the best you can be. In this “instant gratification” world, it is refreshing to see these young Athletes’ commitment to put in the time necessary to perfect their sport. 

 Twenty-One inches at a time; make the commitment to do the best you can at whatever the task at hand may be. You will never regret being the best version of yourself, even if no one else notices, you will forever know that you settled for nothing less than greatness in everything you did.