This last week I had the opportunity to go to what is called an "Integration Bee". To most people this sounds like the most terrifying thing in the world, a calculus competition! I did not participate, I have not done calculus in 2.5 years! However, I really enjoyed watching. As I watched I realized that I could not win this competition. In fact, I couldn't think of any competition that I could enter at this point in my life and win. Ridiculously, I was disappointed. For the majority of my life I have been pretty much great at one thing or another. The fact that I cannot say this right now really disappoints me! So, I went home and talked to my mother (a natural response to anyone not feeling satisfied, to turn to someone with more experience).
My mom gave me some fantastic thoughts. First we need some background though. Growing up I was constantly told that I had potential in pretty much everything I ever did. I began to hate the word potential because if you have potential in everything, but you aren't really awesome at anything no matter how hard you try it can feel like a slap in the face every time you are told you have potential. I was sharing this with my mom and also my recent experience at the Integration Bee when she shared her own experience. My mother is most of the reason I have potential in a lot of things because she taught me to always do my best. When she got married though she thought to herself that she did not have any more potential. She believed that she was stuck, that my dad could do anything, but that she was very limited. I suddenly became very sad for my mother. She has always taught me that I can become something more and the fact that she did not always believe that was difficult.
At this point I realized that I have infinite potential. I can become whatever I want to become! There is nothing to limit me! We are never stuck! There is always something we can do to better ourselves. I can always learn something more and try to be a better person at every moment of my life. I have the potential to become amazing! More than I ever thought I can be. So this is what motivates me. Sometimes we feel stuck, but there is always somewhere to go if we look for it. Just live up to what you know you can become!
My mom gave me some fantastic thoughts. First we need some background though. Growing up I was constantly told that I had potential in pretty much everything I ever did. I began to hate the word potential because if you have potential in everything, but you aren't really awesome at anything no matter how hard you try it can feel like a slap in the face every time you are told you have potential. I was sharing this with my mom and also my recent experience at the Integration Bee when she shared her own experience. My mother is most of the reason I have potential in a lot of things because she taught me to always do my best. When she got married though she thought to herself that she did not have any more potential. She believed that she was stuck, that my dad could do anything, but that she was very limited. I suddenly became very sad for my mother. She has always taught me that I can become something more and the fact that she did not always believe that was difficult.
At this point I realized that I have infinite potential. I can become whatever I want to become! There is nothing to limit me! We are never stuck! There is always something we can do to better ourselves. I can always learn something more and try to be a better person at every moment of my life. I have the potential to become amazing! More than I ever thought I can be. So this is what motivates me. Sometimes we feel stuck, but there is always somewhere to go if we look for it. Just live up to what you know you can become!
Isn't this interesting. I have always thought of your mom as someone I would like to be like -- ever since I met her -- someone extraordinary. I still feel this way. And then there is her extraordinary daughter Cherise....Seriously, I quite admire you as well. Just a thought.
ReplyDeleteHAHA! The only one to admire is Mom. She kind of taught me everything I know, although she wouldn't own up to it.
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