There's this thing I've come to see in my life that I don't really understand... some day, I hope someone explains it to me.
When it comes to people's jobs and what they do for money, many people like being good at what they do. It's why people get college degrees and such. Not everyone does this, but... going to college to get a degree that people are hoping they'll use for work is common enough, I don't know that I need to speak on working to be good at your job.
However, what about everything else?
For me, I want to be good at most everything I do. It's why I've read many chess books. It's why I've watched videos on how to take care of cats. It's why I listen intently when my dental hygenist gives advice on how to better care for my teeth. And don't think I just read and not put it into practice- it's why I have two litterboxes for my cat instead one, or why I feed my cat wet cat food one meal a day (it's too expensive to do both meals that way)... or why I get my cat's nails clipped once a month. It's why when I see someone on the street begging, I give some thought to helping them, almost without fail- and if I say no without thinking about it, THEN I often question for hours whether I did the right thing or not. There are SO MANY THINGS I do because I've given careful thought to my ways, that the list would be staggering- it's just the way that I am. If I'm going to do something, almost invariably, I'm going to do it well- that's how I live. What I don't understand is, why aren't other people this way?
Why are people content with being mediocre? Why don't other people read books about relationships and think hard about the decisions they make? Why do people settle for half-assing it their way through life? I'm guessing there are others out there who want to be excellent in all that they do, but where are they? I think... people pick and choose what they want to be good at, or are content to assume they already know everything and don't feel the need to try to learn. Few people want to be good at basically everything they do. I don't like to think of myself as an exception, but... I don't think I'm exactly the rule either.
I would exhort you to not settle for mediocrity. Work to be the best at all you do. Don't settle for just "being okay at everything." If there is something you aren't good at, then learn. Talk to someone who is better informed than you are and follow their advice. We all can get better at what we do. Whether it's caring for your teeth, taking care of your pet(s), making things work with your significant other, etc... I exhort you to learn and try to grow. Don't settle for anything less than excellence in all you do. The world is full of mediocrity. Don't be like them that way.
