Is That the Best that You Can Do?

Good Morning!

As you look back over your past week...what thoughts come to mind?

Have you ever woke up and said to yourself, "I will NEVER do that again!"?

I have had my share of those sentences!

I think it is a normal part of growing up!

Last night...Rachel and I got into a discussion about the Greek culture.  During the discussion, she brought up the story of Daedalus and Icarus. 

She asked...Do you want me to tell you about it...

My curiosity was leaked...I wanted you hear what she thought of the story...and her interpretation...

She recited it accurately and then I asked..."What lesson do you think that we should learn from that story?"

She said, "It is important to listen to the advice of our elders...and their wisdom and experience...because if an inexperienced person does not...flying too high or too low...they can die..."

Our discussion went a bit deeper...but she grasped the message clearly and accurately!

We then started talking about the need to "push limits" to advance society...and that failure is an important risk...and a tough thing to balance...

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I recently wrote that every generation from the beginning of recorded history has had its own set of societal issues and challenges...the strange thing is...that they are always the same!

We have a tendency to believe that history repeats itself...

I no longer believe that this is a "cop-out!"

We simply grow apathetic...and give up!

We say things like...that is the way people are...or teens will be teens...or companies will always be that way...

It is simply a sign or abdication...

My conclusion...It isn't that history repeats itself...it is that we have yet to find the answer!

Even on a random basis...someone will find an answer!

We simply have to be cognoscente of its arrival and listen...and act accordingly!

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A few weeks ago...I was honored to be asked to participate in the South Florida Cub Fun Day.  I was there to promote the Pinewood-Winning by the Rules" book.

More than 1,500 scouts attended...

The discussions ran the complete gambit...Some entertaining and some deep....

I had my books on display...

They were clearly marked that they were for sale at the cover cost and that I would personalize them...

What boggled my mind was how many parents walked up to the display...grabbed a book and tried to leave without paying for them (they were clearly marked!)...some even asked me to sign them...

What terrible lessons to teach their scouts...

Scouting is not about "taking"...it is about giving...

"Do your best" has absolutely nothing to do with what you get from doing that...

"Doing your best" is all about what you give to humanity and your environment...

"Leave the world a better place for your having been there!"

This type of behavior is not just for scouting anymore!

It should be an inherent behavior for anyone in this world...

Can you honestly say that on a regular basis...the world is a better place for you having been here?

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A great question to ask yourself on a moment by moment basis is...

"Is that the best that you can do?"

If you aren't asking that...someone else will...

Many people will argue...that no one has a right to ask that question...but the individual themselves...

I disagree...I believe that this is a required question of every individual on an ongoing basis...

If it isn't sincerely asked by the individual...they have abdicated it to being someone else!

Is this the best that you can do?

What about your past week?

Did you make it through...doing what you had to do...or did you do the best that you can do?

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What about tomorrow?

Is what you did today...setting the stage for tomorrow's improvement?

If today is the same as yesterday...how can you rationally expect tomorrow to be any different?

Is this the best that you can do?

There is nothing you can do to change the past...

Today is what it is...

Tomorrow is where you have all of the control...

The key is what you do today!

Is it the best that you can do?

Is your world a better place for you having been here?

PURA VIDA!