I don’t feel so great.
Don’t dwell on reality; it will only keep you from greatness.
- Rev. Randall R. McBride, Jr.Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly
- Robert KennedyThey only recognize greatness when some authority confirms it.
- Calvin and HobbesI figured that if I said it enough, I would convince the world that I really was the greatest.
- Muhammad Ali
I’m pondering the notion of greatness. Are there opportunities left, in this world, in this generation, in this lifetime for greatness. Can I be great? Do I have the balls to take tremendous risk? Am I passionate? Am I driven? Am I innovative enough to reach for the heavens and find myself comfortably tip-toe-ing amidst clouds? Is this what it takes to be truly great? Do I have it in me? I ask myself these questions…and there’s really not much of a response other than that of my stomach grumbling or of crickets out in the distance. Can I ever achieve greatness? And I mean that in all the epic and romantic possibilities that one wraps around such a term. Greatness.
I mean Greatness.
For myself, not by virtue of talent or intelligence or physical capability. Nor by ingenuity or imagination. I am fairly ordinary and I am comfortable with that. Actually, if you talk to me in person, I’m actually fairly arrogant but only on small matters that make me unique, entertaining, or memorable…not necessarily *great*. Take for instance this most recent conversation.
Him: (looking at me and giggling)
Moi: “What are you laughing at?”
Him: “You… you’re so cute.”
Moi: “Why yes, I know I am.”
Him: (guffawing) “And so humble too”
Moi: “Only about my beauty”
Him: (trying to stifle further laughter)
This, while making me amusing, and sometimes disarming, charming, or laughable in hubris, does not make me great. Should we not all attempt greatness? Who still does? There are, it seems, more heroes in fiction than in the news. I wish it weren’t always so.
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