MEDIOCRE AT BEST

 Am I the only one who sometimes thinks I am mediocre at best?  The truth of the matter is I have tried many things along life's path and usually enjoyed each and every effort.  Yet it seems I have not excelled at anything.

I am a jack of many trades and know a little bit about many-many things, but have not really excelled at any of those attempts.  The world would have you believe mediocrity is a bad thing.  Look at this sign post.  Why for some reason mediocre is lower than average.

  

We live in a world of specialization.  Look at the medical profession.  The days of GP's are gone.  Dr. Norris, Booth, and Wadlington, of my childhood, were jack of all trades.  They did it all--delivered babies, performed surgeries, set broken bones, treated mental illness, and on and on.  They were not "experts" in any one field, but worked to keep us all healthy and put together in our small Southern town.  They were over-worked and underpaid--stretched to their limit time wise as well as knowledge.  In today's world they would be considered mediocre, but in the days of my childhood they were held in high esteem.  In their mediocrity they were doing their very best to keep us all vertical.

The definition of mediocrity tells us it is moderate ability or value.  I truly believe when the best you can do is of moderate ability in the eyes of the world, it is NOT a negative.  If my best efforts only produce mediocre results those results may be enough for me---they were the best I could do.  The knowledge gained, the personal satisfaction of attempting new things, and even the mediocre outcome of my attempt made it all worthwhile.  I never could run very fast, but I greatly enjoyed the attempt.  The camaraderie enjoyed, the resulting good health, and the joy of the run made my mediocre attempts very satisfying.  I love the process of cooking.  I am NO world class chef, my cooking is filling, but not gourmet, and I have flopped more times than I can count.  My neighbors do not even flinch when my smoke alarm goes off YET AGAIN!  That does not take away from the joy of cooking.  

SO where am I going?  If the best we can do is mediocre in the eyes of the experts, does that make us mediocre?  I think not!  It takes courage to try new things, it takes moxie to laugh at less than stellar outcomes.    Not everyone was meant to be excellent~ in fact only a handful.   I greatly admire those who try-try again.  Those who keep working at it.  We all love the stories of the bench warmer who finally gets in the game.  Does he need to score?  I think not---it showed who he was to keep at it until he finally got to run a play.  What is important is ALWAYS doing your best---even when it feels we are mediocre.  QUIT comparing yourself and  be satisfied with knowing you did you very best.  In my eyes if I know you are giving your all, you are excellent in your attempt and that is all that truly matters.