Why do we confine ourselves to doing just a little bit more than the next guy? Why do we limit our capabilities by defending our behavior with that same old adage “I’m better than I used to be.”
While working at the Lighthouse Youth Center I would intermittently ask the kids what types of grades they were getting.in school. There would be a couple who responded with a detailed answer such as “two A’s four B’s and a C”, but the majority would answer with a very nonchalant… “I’m passing”. There’s a young lady in her late teens who’s very dear to me, who when asked why she had missed school or why her grades were not up to par would answer with “At least I go to school. I’m not a drop-out, or pregnant, or on drugs like a lot of kids I know.” Then there’s my millwright friend and co-worker who when we finished repairing a piece of machinery would say, “Well, it’s better than it was.” All legitimate and honest statements but I think that they are only used as a means for justifying our complacency and satisfaction with being less than who we truly are.
I know without a doubt that I have been created to be the best Calvin Bernard Gantt on the planet, just as each of you has been created to be the best whomever you happen to be. There is no one better qualified to do what you or I have been put here to do so let’s stop comparing ourselves to others and start excelling at who we already are. As the ‘Desiderata’ written by Max Ehrmann states, “…You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars…” So let’s stand tall ya’ll, let’s start shining and brightening things up wherever we go. We don’t ever have to worry about being better than somebody else when we’re always focused on being the best that we can be.
God will continue to give us all that we need to do all that we’re supposed to do and that giving will increase once we are no longer fearful of using all that we already have to remain the best whomever we already are.
Wanna holla back? Click on the orange comment link at the bottom of this page or email me at grace.calvin187@gmail.com.
I whole heartedly agree, sir. Is it our connectedness that compels us to compare and compete? And yet isnt it the magic individuality that allows us to be able to look inside and visualize unlimited possibilities that we can actualize beyond the boundaries surrounding us? Others can inspire, motivate, show us the gate yet you show us we still have to open up and work hard to pave our way. If we can leave neglect and mediocre behind what a world this could be! Thanks for the insight!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the validation Anonymous. It seems that you have a handle on being the best that you can be and I wish you success in your endeavor to improve our collective world situation. Be Blessed
DeleteWow...Calvin , Just what I needed to read this morning. Thanks for the insight and motivation. Have a Great Day.
ReplyDeleteGloria
Happy to hear that Gloria, and thank you for making my day with your response. Be Blessed
DeleteBro Calvin, he have gotten so used to mediocrity that the we settle for the bare minimum. We have been programmed to do just enough to get by. I remember with Ava was small and in grade school, everyday I took her to school I would alway say "I expect excellence from you" a parent told me one time that I was putting too much pressure on her by telling I expect excellence. Are you kidding me? So in our world of below standard expectation, we have compared ourselved to the bottom and say well as long as I aint on the bottom I am doing better than you. It has alot to do with our wanting to feel superior to someone one, no matter how low that might be.
ReplyDeleteSo what is the solution? I constantly aske the kids, why they settle for being a carbon, when God has made you an original, why do they settle for being an echo, when God had made you a voice. The only way to overcome it is by constantly pushing them to excell beyond what they believe is possible.
Wow Brother Destry, you're always on point when it comes to working with our kids. Also, you can feel free to use anything I write when it comes to your interaction with others and don't be surprised when you see me using that carbon/original...echo/voice phrase. Thank you for being you.
DeleteWow Uncle Calvin i really needed this. This just gave me further inspiration to keep moving toward the top. I just received an offer i could not afford to lose and almost did because of pride & fear. I went ahead and accepted the offer because i know its going to be beneficial to myself and my family. I logged on FB and read this and i feel like God is talking to me through you....giving me confirmation that i made the right decision! Thanks for your words of encouragement Uncle Calvin!
ReplyDeleteThank you nephew for being responsive to God's Will. You not only help your family by accepting that offer but contribute to the entire universe as well. Stay encouraged.
DeleteRegarding being the best we can be, I find that the most pathetic words are I DID THE BEST I COULD!! To say these words limits yourslef, signifies that you were working at capacity and it limits the paramenters that you feel God has given your life..What has happened to dreaming bigger and outside ourselves? Outside of what our limited capacities can sometimes envision. Our individual places in the universe and in history have already been secured..we just have to live up to our potential. WE get distracted by what we see as the progress of others, the paths of others, and the perceived importance of others' path while we diminish our own importance. It is then that we become unfocussed on our own shining path and become vaguely envious and coveting of things that belong to others.
ReplyDeleteIt is when we don't give full importance to our own path that we get off track, disturbed and distracted. We start to begrudge the succeess of others and all we need to do is celebrate our brothers ad sisters' successes, glean what we can from them and push on our merry way,looking for bigger and better successes in our own lives. Those of the younger generation who feel that just enough is good enough, have often given up because they see no clear successes around them except what the media shows them. We have to be the examples, living our lives to the fullest..examples work..The outcome may not be what you envisioned...but did Christ balk because He thought that some of his disciples MIGHT become more popular than him and possibly surpass his efforts? Jesus had a mission and even with the human frailties weighing on him, He stayed HIS course..We should celebrate each other while staying our BEST COURSE...Renee' Baker
Thank you Renee' for your insight and input. I especially vibe with the piece about our places in the universe having already been secured. Our 'success' already exists in the spiritual realm, and is waiting for us to make it manifest in the natural. If we could just see ourselves reflected in others' accomplishments it would make our lives a lot simpler. Thanks again
ReplyDeleteAs a youth I guess I was like the kids to start out. But my daddy changed all that for me. He made a statement that REALLY PISSED me off. " He said that he always worried about me because I had kids!" Well form then on I wanted him to know that I could handle my own. I took care of my kids on social service for a while and went to school. When I graduated from school, I RAN to the social service office. Told them thank for their support, but I was GOING TO GET A JOB!!! and would NOT be requiring their service EVER again!
ReplyDeleteI was proud of my accomplishment and I something to prove to the one man that meant everything to me. I was on a mission. Graduated form CNA school got a job, raised my family, Graduated from LVN school, raised my family, graduated form the police academy, raised my family, passed my licensing test raised my family and worked two jobs as a LVN and a police tech.
Worry about me and my kids I showed him!!!!! I was not better I WAS and did the BEST!!!! I realized later that the one statement change everything. For me it made me realize and achieve my potential at that time in my life. For my dad it made him see that with the kids and all (one being disabled) I was Very cable of holding my own. And for the first time in my life at my graduation I heard him tell me that he was PROUD of me!!!
Which one am I!!! If you read this all the way through you know!!!!
Thanks Ros, I hope and pray that your testimony will give hope and inspiration to our readers.
DeleteThanks for this, for some time now I have been saying to others:
ReplyDeleteDon't worry about what the person next to you is doing, or try to keep up with them because they are not your competition. The only competition you have is yourself. Make every effort to do the best that you can do and appreciate the progress that you make as a result of working at getting better.
Have received postitive response and thank God for giving me these words to share with others.
Thanks again,
Love, Mom
We thank you Mom for the love expressed through your words.
ReplyDeleteLove you always.