On Mediocrity

    No dying man regrets having accomplished too much.  Perhaps he may regret the nature of his accomplishments (the light at the end of the tunnel has the tendency to elicit a reevaluation of how precious time was spent), wishing to have been a better father or to have seen more of the world, but he never wishes to have done less.  No writer wishes he had written fewer books.  He may wish he had written different or better ones, but he never wishes that he had not dedicated himself to the task. The same can be said for a builder, or a preacher, or a mother, or a teacher.  When presented with impending mortality, no one wishes he had watched a little more TV or done a little more "nothing."

  Considerations such as these have impressed themselves upon me of late.  I have determined that I will not be defined by the mediocrity of those around me.  I will do and be more than I currently am.  I will put in that extra bit of effort.  I will rise above the mire of "good enough"!  I will challenge myself to accomplish and experience as much as I can.  I will pay attention to details.  I will give care and detail to everything that I do. And, instead of trying to holding down those around me, I will seek to edify them and make them better people.  This sort of mutuality is the only way that entire families, businesses, and societies can thrive and advance.