Good Not Great

Kavringen Lighthouse

Oslo, Norway

To the person who thinks they are good at things but not great.

For the most part, we all have that nagging voice that tells us what we have done may not be as special or important as we want it to be.

We are constantly exposed to those who appear to exist and success simply rushes their way with minimal effort due to social media.

In high school, I wanted to attend an international school somewhere in Asia. I found it fascinating that I could be somewhere else, young and exposed to a foreign culture.

Ever since I was young, I knew I wanted to travel and learn about what the world had to offer.

Early on I understood that being immersed in what I was curious about would allow me to absorb it more efficiently and with good reason. Frankly,  I could have applied myself to be in a better position to have had a chance to study abroad that early in my educational career.

However, I did not put in more effort. I fed myself ideas that I was good enough but not great enough to reach that goal.

We can discuss the fundamental aspects of this and where it comes from, but I am sure we all know where they come from.

In case you do not know, here are a few: comparison, environmental pressures from a family tied with socioeconomic pressures, your language use, and what has been spoken over you, among other things.

Back then I considered myself a good student. I was good enough, not a troublemaker, and got through what I needed to with the abilities afforded me. I sometimes do not like to acknowledge it but I went through a tough transition at the age of 8 trying to get educated in a language that was foreign to me.

When you experience a change like that, it shocks the system and what you know as normal.

Before that age, that was not the only life shock I went through. Now writing about this I understand it was much deeper than being at a disadvantage in another place.

I still do not know how I made it through the 3rd grade with barely any language under my belt.

Growing up, I was in various extracurricular activities and was able to try different things, I never got past the point of a starter. I always felt like a starter and never a finisher. 

At that time, I never committed enough to reach the point of proficiency that I deeply craved in anything.

A large amount stems from those humble beginnings of mine. There is no real excuse why I did not overcome those limiting beliefs to excellence and mastery. 

There is always something you can do and at the end of the day, I did what I needed to get me to where I am today.

I saw a lot of that around me blaming and very little responsibility being taken for action. I also saw complacency and a lack of discipline.

Birds that flock together…

Still, today when it comes to my second language, I feel like a toddler in terms of my utilization. Others may differ in opinion but what I consider superb speech is not close to what I am capable of,  even after all these years.

I remember being the kid who liked being around the adults rather than the kids. I remember being complimented about how mature I was.

At that ripe age, I thrived from that outside and superficial affirmation. Now, as an adult, outside validation matters much less because even though I have become more receptive to compliments. I know that it's a temporary feeling and what I think about me being good or great enough weighs more.

As the eldest daughter of four children, I took on more responsibility than I should have, I was exposed prematurely to the world. Many things factor in and I could have learned later in my adolescence, perhaps even early adulthood.

Despite all that happened in my life, I classify it all as good.

The possibility of me being a byproduct of my environment was very high but I pushed against the tide.

Being able to achieve what I have has been because of the good. Starting businesses, while working many jobs, traveling the world little by little, and the constant thirst to better myself as a person, it all amounts to something greater. Someone great is me.

Someone great is who you are, a constant even through your becoming. You have always been great because you have always been you. You continue to add on the mountain of effort you have made for your life and its improvement.

We all play a role, adding to our capabilities but by default we are great and not just good.

Great is who we are, good is what we do with it.