Life is like a Yo-Yo

Most of us know what a yo-yo is. It has changed over the years but so have we as a people. Life has changed dramatically just in my lifetime. I remember our first microwave. I remember TV being only certain channels and turning off at night with the star bangled banner and then static. I remember playing with simple toys and one of those was a yo-yo. I was never very good at it and to this day I would be lucky if I could get it to bounce back up the string even one time. And yet there are yo-yo master’s that do phenomenal tricks and perform dexterities that don’t seem possible with a string and a simple wood or plastic tool if you will. The yo-yo is believed to have originated in China around 1000 BC, evolving from a toy known as the Diabolo. It was often used in initiation rituals, symbolizing a child’s coming of age. The modern yo-yo as we know it was popularized in the 1920’s by Pedro Flores, a Filipino immigrant who established the Flores Yo-Yo Company in California. In 1929, American Businessman Donald F. Duncan acquired the company and further promoted the yo-yo through advertising and demonstrations, leading to a massive fad in the United States. In summary, the yo-yo was invented as a toy for entertainment, with a rich history that spans multiple cultures and centuries, evolving into a beloved pastime worldwide.

Now with that history explanation out of the way, I will hopefully convey why life is like a yo-yo. Just like the yo-yo the premise of life is the same. As in living life or playing with a yo-yo, we have the opportunity to figure it out. AS time goes, we are always changing how we do things, learning things, understanding things. We adapt, we grow, we get better or as in my case, with a yo-yo, I know what the gig is, but still can’t do it very well. Life comes into being, a yo-yo is created. We don’t know much about life and have to learn along the way. We don’t know what a yo-yo is either if just handed one, and it would take a little time to figure out its use. Throughout history, items such as this might be thought to be used as a weapon. Human nature and history show us this. But once shown or understood we get the understanding the yo-yo is a toy, due to it not being very practical as a weapon. Still, there is some understanding and process taking place to gain this knowledge and wisdom. Just like with life. We are giving this gift and are figuring it out along the way. There are no real blueprints, just history lessons. As we change, adapt and grow with the times and technology we understand it’s all part of the process. Just like learning to work a yo-yo, seriously. We are clumsy at first and then we start to get the hang of it and can eventually get the yo-yo to spin back up the string. Some of us evolve to doing simple tricks like around the world, gravity pull or the sleeper. But if we don’t practice those tricks they don’t take root, and we forget how to do them. Which is the case for me. And there is where I find myself in life, aged, out of practice and trying to pick up a yo-yo and go “around the world” with it. I fumble and falter, get frustrated that my simple trick isn’t going how it should, just like my life isn’t. And I expect that a simple toy should be performing much better. I expected my life to be much better. Now there are some that do all sorts of amazing dazzling tricks and wow the crowd, again, just like life does, for them. But for the most part, most of us can pick up this child’s toy and at least make it go up and down on its string, just like we go up and down with life. We’re not master’s at it but we can do the basics. I’m tired of living basic and yet I find myself without the fortitude to practice every day and do better. The saying life passes us by day after day faster and faster only adds to the mischance of opportunity. We know this, I know this, and we still just bounce the yo-yo on the string up and down a few times and then go on to something else.

Life isn’t just a yo-yo though. Life isn’t just a toy to be used and discarded so quickly. Life is meant to be explored, to be journeyed. And life is meant to be amazing and not just a simple trick one and done. We have to do our due diligence because for most of us life isn’t handed to us on a silver platter. But as with the yo-yo, if one is not shown how to do this, how to accomplish this, so much time is wasted just trying to clumsily figure it all out. Learning how to use a yo-yo or play with a yo-yo to whatever degree desired is something that is within all of us. Learning how to navigate life, and to live in our passions and abundance is also within all of us. But with each, it takes practice. It takes failure and triumph. It takes a willingness to pick up the yo-yo just as it takes willingness, determination and desire to take the next step in life. Learning and figuring out how to use a yo-yo is a parallel to the same steps we all take in life. And it’s most always a choice. A choice to learn, to grow, to change, to adapt, to become wiser and a master of our own journey. I don’t want to just bobble up and down upon the string, but I do know, without learning how to bobble, I will never be able to run. So, here’s to all of us out there just running around trying to bobble life in our hands. We can do it, I know we can. We’re not dead yet, we still picked up the toy. Now what are we going to do with it? It’s time to get busy, maybe learn a new trick or two and get on with getting on. I’ve got a spare yo-yo if you need one. See you on the journey.