I think I've talked about this before, but when we were living in Mississippi we lived across the street from the cemetary. And for some reason (most likely the lack of other entertainment) when friends or family would visit, they liked to tour the cemetary. My mother-in-law once discovered a headstone that said, "She did the best she could." Bless her heart. We laughed about it, but deep down I felt so bad for that lady. I wondered if she left this earth feeling like her best was good enough.
I usually have a lot to say, but not tonight. I just have questions. And not rhetorical. I'd really love to know what you think. Here goes:
1. How do you know what your best is?
2. How do you always know that you're doing your best?
3. What do you do if your idea of your best and other people's ideas of the best don't line up?
4. What if your best isn't good enough and it affects other people?
5. How do you handle dealing with the fact that maybe you haven't done your best?
Just curious...
2 comments:
. How do you know what your best is?
hmmm Wow! I think it depends on the situation.. At home I know I've done my best each day when my family goes to bed happy, fed, and reasonably clean... If its a homemade meal thats filled their bellies than I've exceeded my best! If my house is clean... i've given up and hired a maid...
If it's at work... This challenges me all the time... There are kids that are not going to meet all of their "age appropriate" goals. This is hard for me to swallow... I like to see the data that shows I "did my best" which means they have met their goals and are discharged from services but the truth is that there are many other factors in these kids lives... I guess I have to say I've done my best for that child if I have not rested until I've found the right technique for that child...
2. How do you always know that you're doing your best?
I guess this tied in with my first answer... But its a child to child, night to night, interaction to interaction balance...
3. What do you do if your idea of your best and other people's ideas of the best don't line up?
I cry... Alot... I don't like to disappoint people. When it's Erik that I feel I've let down I actually get really defensive. And then I kill myself trying to outdo my best and regain favor in that person's eyes.
4. What if your best isn't good enough and it affects other people?
I just don't know... I don't ever let it be more than a one time temporary due to life stresses event so it's never enough that I truly let anyone down that much... I kill myself with the stress before I let it affect others long term
5. How do you handle dealing with the fact that maybe you haven't done your best?
It makes me just sick to my stomach... There is nothing worse in my world than letting someone down... In fact I think 90% of my stress in life is based on my fear of letting people down... My family, my co-workers, my students, etc... its really not healthy...
If someone wrote "She tried her best" on my grave I would probably forever walk this earth in the attempt to have it rewritten to "She gave everything her all"
Wow, these are HARD questions!
1. I generally feel good about the job I've done, and that makes it "best" to me.
2. Giving 100% means that I am striving to do my best. I don't know that I always know that I'm doing my best.
3.I have learned in my life that doing my best in my eyes are all that matter. God knows my heart, and He alone knows if I've given all that I can. What other people consider to be MY best is not that relevant to me.
4. Really? Who can it affect? People are responsible for themselves unless you are talking about CPR.
5. Again, who says that you haven't done your best.
I think, according to the questions, that you are upset with yourself over other people's expectations. Please, Emily, give yourself a break! If God convicts you about not doing your best, then deal with that issue with Him. You cannot let the demands and expectations of others affect your emotions or moods. Quite frankly, any woman who has three small children, a husband, a home, AND is a pastor's wife to boot....is REALLY doing her best when she goes to bed at night and hasn't killed anyone!!!
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