The Surprising Satisfaction Of Doing Things You’re Awful At

I’m as big of an Anthony Bourdain fan as the next person. To me, he was the cool uncle I never got to meet. I’ve always appreciated his way with words, his candor and irreverence, and his uncanny ability to bring people of all backgrounds together through food. 

But my biggest hat tip moment for him was starting Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at the ripe age of 58. That’s first-time granddaddy age for many. 

Yet, he chose to subject himself to a physically taxing endeavor where the goal is to strangle or break a limb. And at that age, he would, for the most part, be going up against people who are much more youthful and explosive enough to give him rib injuries, sleepless nights of lumbar aches, and stiff necks that last for days. 

So why would someone who already conquered the realm of food and TV willingly put himself back at the bottom of the totem pole?