One of my philosophies of life is summed up nicely in the following two line poem that I found in an illustrated children's book of verses years ago.

Be the labor great or small,
Do it well or not at all.

It so closely aligned with my own thinking that I saved it for a long time, and when I had children of my own I framed the little poem and illustration and hung it on my daughter's wall.

Somewhere along the way though, without even realizing it, I had taken that simple message and changed it into something quite different. I knew the words of the poem word for word, but it now "said" something else to me. It said,

Be the labor great or small,
Be the BEST or don't try at all.

Similar words, but oh, what a difference. I felt I had to be the best at whatever I did in order to be worthy - to win praise; be it from my parents, my husband or a boss. And it might seem to have been a good motto for me because I'm happily married and have been fairly successful in my career. Maybe not the best, but I have done well.

Thank God, I can honestly say I never held my children to the same unrealistic standard. They didn't have to be the best; it was enough that they do their best. All I ever wanted for my children was that they grow up to be happy, honest, self sufficient, functioning adults who love the Lord.

So now, I can't help thinking what else I might have been able to accomplish if I hadn't limited myself to what I thought I could be BEST at. What else might I have experienced? What else could I have done well at if I hadn't been unwilling to try because I thought I couldn't be the best? So lighten up world. Cut youself some slack.