Today is a special day, my Mother's birthday. Unfortunately, she is no longer here to celebrate it, so today I chose a word in her honor.
Word: Moderation: I know this seems like a strange word to chose for a tribute to a wonderful person, but it is how she lived her life, and one of the most important things she taught me.
Webster's: n. moderateness, freedom from excess; equanimity. Moderate- adj. having reasonable limits; avoiding extremes; mild, calm, medium amount.
Mine: One of my mother's famous lines I hear in my head is; "everything in moderation".
If you are one who is constantly striving for perfection, this may not even be in your dictionary. I used to think - I have to be "great" at something, if everything is in moderation, I will never be "great".
As I have gotten older, and have some years to reflect back on; those words from my Mother, have become the cornerstone of how I have chosen to live my life. I certainly have never been the "best" at anything, because I have never concentrated hard enough, or consumed myself long enough, with just one thing. There have been too many things that I have wanted to try, at least once.
Some people might say that because of that, I am just mediocre, at best, at lots of things, but is that a bad thing? Because of my moderation, I have never become so blinded or obsessed by one thing, that I missed out on other things. Maybe by staying in the middle of my road, avoiding extremes, I have had the freedom to move up and down my path, change my direction, and occasionally even been able to stop and smell a few roses. So, to all of you extremists, overachievers... I congratulate you, and wish you the best. Don't forget to wave as you pass me, going from your one extreme to the other, I'm still here in the middle, enjoying going up... and down my path.
Love you Mom! There is not a day that goes by, that I don't think about you, and miss you!
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That was magnificently written and wonderfully thought-provoking. Thank you!
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