We must internalize the idea of excellence. Not many folks spend a lot of time trying to be excellent.
President Barack Obama
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Good Tuesday to you.
My rule is if you try for good, you'll be okay; if you try for very good ,you'll be good; if you try for excellent, you'll be very good; if you try for perfect, you'll be excellent. No body does it perfectly, at least not often, and depending on how complicated it is (whatever it is), but too many people settle for okay or good when they could achieve so much more.
You've no doubt heard the old saying "If it's worth doing, it's worth doing well." But too often that only applies to things that you do to impress other people or to keep your job. Those are acceptable motives for sure but they aren't the best ones. But what about our personal lives, what about the tasks that no one sees. "Oh that's good enough for me. If I was cooking for others I'd make it better."
"Good enough" was a rule of life for people around me when I was growing up and that's why later in life I adopted the rule that says "it can always be better." I try to use it in all aspects of my life. I'm not a "perfectionist" nor do I always achieve excellence, but whatever it is, I know it can be better and so I strive for it as much as I can. I think any self-respecting person does.
Circumstances prevent us from achieving everything as well as we might. Laziness and exhaustion put up their fists. Time runs out. But here's my tactic.
Make a list of all the things you want and need to accomplish this day. Do each one of them as painstakingly and as perfectly as you can. If you don't get through the list it probably means that you've done the ones you did with some degree of excellence.
DB
Thumb thy nose at the winter blues.
http://vagabondjourneys.blogspot.com/
http://db-vagabondtales.blogspot.com/
9 comments:
Consider nose thumbed lol. This post was interesting, I have to say if you have to make a list to remind you how to live, what makes you happy, how to become balm for your brother, there's something missing. The rest of this is simple, direct and everything I heard growing up too lol. Something to be said for that, yet each generation must make it's own rules, I'd say. Take what you need from past successes while plowing your own unique road. Mr. O isn't supposed to be "just ok" nor should he be "perfect" but for this glorified office he holds in the oligarchy our country has become, I say just look distinguished at photo ops, we all know who really runs this country. His appointment should not have made history, it should've been the norm for years. We're a very young country.
DB, How appropriate this pose was for me today. I have been on a "good enough" track for a while now. I do make the lists, but the list is rushed through, just to get it done. Shame on me. Thank you for shaking up my malaize.
You found me out.
I've most often taken the "well, since it's just for me....." attitude.
And I love the quote this morning. Very true.
:) Leigh
I've learned perfection is a myth. As long as you strive to at the very least strive (I'm really not trying to rhyme here *winks*). When I accepted perfect was attainable, I found I was able to reach for what was. (Hugs)Indigo
to bears up and about in a world hibernating,
cheers and salute
stu
I'm not sure if people even try for good these days; there's a lot of mediocrity these days and we accept it; and then when we actually get someone doing a good job, it amazes us because we are surrounded by so many just trying to get by with as little work as possible
I strive but fail often to do the best I can, but my intent is always to do excellent/best
betty
I agree with you except when it comes to one thing: housework. Life is too short to spend it hunting down and eliminating every speck of dust! :)
Beth
hi DB,ive finished with the girlguiding uk. 2 yrs now after 34 yrs being a youth leader and here is my promise
I PROMISE TO DO MY BEST, TO LOVE MY GOD, TO SERVE MY QUEEN, TO HELP OTHER PEOPLE AND TO KEEP THE GUIDE LAW.
INBETWEEN THAT A THOUSAND OTHER THINGS LOL BUT IF I WRITE A LIST KNOWING ME ID PROBLY LOSE IT AND THANKS YOUR BLOGS ARE GREAT XXX LOVE FROM NANCYBROWNOWL AND FERGUS AND MINNIE XX
The Army motto, Be all you can be, has always struck a great chord with me.
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