tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6772521.post6517086533735799561..comments2009-01-14T21:01:29.770-05:00SJ Austinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10091353484812479314noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6772521.post-26645530035684064322009-01-14T21:01:00.000-05:002009-01-14T21:01:00.000-05:00And when one faces death square in the face he no longer desires to be the best at anything save that which will endure past his brief existence. He rudely discovers that his life is reduced to a mere single entry on the ancestry tree; only those who follow after and find their origins in him, give life and meaning beyond his days.Kevinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6772521.post-83494035005727930642009-01-12T10:36:00.000-05:002009-01-12T10:36:00.000-05:00I'm 100% on the same page with Lisa and Heidi. I'll repeat, for emphasis: There is great merit in being good at many things.<BR/><BR/>But even aside from that point, I am personally fulfilled by having a variety of pursuits in my life. Even if I could be literally <EM>the best</EM> person in the entire world at a very worthwhile endeavor, I would not be happy if I did not have time to pursue many others and be at least <EM>good</EM> at those.<BR/><BR/>It's an old cliche, but one I fervently subscribe to: "Variety is the spice of life."Scottishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622799361367318009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6772521.post-10935586500515476392009-01-09T20:42:00.000-05:002009-01-09T20:42:00.000-05:00I can't beat you at basketball, the saxophone or the guitar... oh, and that blog was really easy to read - yikes!DC Prevostihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17619647525285564660noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6772521.post-64663024609794762522009-01-09T15:28:00.000-05:002009-01-09T15:28:00.000-05:00Scott,<BR/>Maybe this is a cop out but striving to be better, is in my mind way better than striving to be the best. There is ALWAYS someone who is better at things than you are. Does that mean what you can do and do do is a waste? Not to my way of thinking. Then again, like I said, it may just be a cop out because I don't feel I am the best at anything....and have no desire to be...<BR/>I agree with Lisa that there is merit to being good at many things and also if you have a personal desire to get better at something, then go on pursue it, full steam ahead.<BR/>I think things done passionately and to the best of YOUR ability, is a good goal to go for.Heidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09681886422495959241noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6772521.post-77520396991258366722009-01-09T12:49:00.000-05:002009-01-09T12:49:00.000-05:00Oh my gosh, I can't believe I misspelled "hear"!Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15337542402523972499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6772521.post-10758441675849232532009-01-09T12:48:00.000-05:002009-01-09T12:48:00.000-05:00No, it's not a shame. Why do you need to be the best at something? I think there's equal merit at being very good at many things.<BR/><BR/>I think it's also dangerous to assume that we are "wasting days" because we are late risers or don't compete specific tasks at specific times. That's something I've had to come to grips with lately. That there's not some perfect ideal of productivity or personal value.<BR/><BR/>Now, if you have a personal desire to get better at something or rise early, then you should pursue it. But don't pursue it because you think you're a wasted human being if you don't.<BR/><BR/>Also, the memory of listening to that audiobook with my kids on the way to Boston is always a fond memory for me. I can still here EB White reading "I only distribute pigs to early risers."Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15337542402523972499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6772521.post-70498547289667763162009-01-09T12:44:00.000-05:002009-01-09T12:44:00.000-05:00Certainly food for thought there Scott. I waffle between that myself. I haven't yet come down on whether I believe being the best at anything is actually worth giving up other endeavours. And maybe, as you shared, that's my own inadequacy or fear speaking.Donhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10482721418820436131noreply@blogger.com