Great Minds Think Alike

Don't tell me to stop being so hard on myself and to give myself credit for all that I've done. It may work for some, but not for me. If you'd said it to Benjamin Franklin he might have only flown his kite on sunny days. And if Beethoven had listened, he may have stopped with Symphony no.3. Greatness requires time and patience, not just a pat on the back for a few accomplishments. And seeing that I'm lucky enough to have both time and patience, I'm not ready to accept the pat for a job not-so-well-done.  

The Great Pyramids wouldn't have been so great if they'd stopped with the first tier/tear. Instead, after the peak of number one, they hungered for number two and kept building. I don't think The Greats thought about resting. Alexander wasn't lying in his hammock every weekend. The Great Composers and Great Philosophers weren't recognized for their one-hit wonders and told they deserved a break. And The Great Gatsby may not have accomplished a lot, but his house was full of music and cheer and was hardly a peaceful refuge like others I know.

My idea of greatness isn't Charlie Brown's Great Pumpkin whose only job was to sit in a sunny field all day and grow. But I have a feeling those that think I'm too hard on myself would consider growth something great. And albeit important, it's not my definition of greatness.

Hats off to those who live their quotidian lives with satisfaction. At night you lie your heads to rest and sleep, while I, who may have done what you think worthy of rest, toss with the disappointment of today and turn with the conviction that maybe tomorrow I'll win the Great War with myself.