When developers see the title of this article, they might start thinking, “Which design pattern could this be about?” and perhaps even become curious. However, in this piece, I’m not talking about software, but rather the impact of a hobby that started casually and over time has become deeply intertwined with my professional life.
I go rowing every day. Our club is closed on Mondays, so if there’s no southwesterly wind, you’ll find me out at sea in the mornings. In rowing, the most used part of our body is our leg muscles, and I’d like to particularly emphasize this point.
Rowing is a team sport. You go out with four people. The athlete at the front is the pace-setter, meaning they set the tempo of the boat. No matter where you sit in the boat, you must put forth your strength and concentration. Yes, you might be strong and agile, but you need to dip the oar into the water at the right moment and lift it out just as precisely.
“Slow to the front.” There’s no need to rush; you should approach the front slowly. Otherwise, that acceleration will meet with reverse resistance, and the rowing will slow down, even causing the tip of the oar to sink forward like a hook, bringing you to a stop. Remember, you’ll see the direct result of everything you do; you’ll experience the exact outcome of whether you’re doing it right or wrong. Everything from A to Z must be perfect, meaning all technical rules and procedures must be fully applied and repeated.
Conditioning is also important; there are still races ahead. When I realized I was running out of breath during races, I started to run. Then, noticing I had gained a bit of a belly, dieting entered my life.
Now, I can row agilely and with the right equipment. There will be days you’ll want to give up; your hands will develop calluses, maybe even bleed a little, your shoes will get wet, you’ll feel cold or sweat a lot. Everything awaits you on stage. But before you know it, a year has passed; you’re standing without fatigue, not yawning at work, or while driving, you’re able to concentrate. This concentration from rowing turns into a new skill you can use everywhere. You believe more in team play because you’ve seen it with your own eyes while rowing, knowing it can happen at work or in a social responsibility project.
Walking on Caddebostan beach, I watch from one of the boats you point out with your hands. There’s so much to learn in this sport that seems so pleasant from afar.