Mediocrity

When I was in 9th grade my Geography teacher gave us a heart to heart about mediocrity. She told us a story about a date she once went on. On this date they went lobster fishing. She stated once they caught a lobster they would put it in a bucket and it would try to get out, but as soon as they caught several lobsters they couldn't escape. She went on to explain how every time one of the lobsters tried to climb out of the bucket the others would pull it back down. The moral of this heart to heart was whether or not you were going to allow those around you to pull you down or if you were going to continue to climb. I remember leaving this class period being so motivated, telling myself I was always going to be the one to rise above.

As I've grown up and been in different situations I've realized how hard it is to rise above and how simply wanting to isn't enough. We are taught to dream big and that we can accomplish anything we set our minds, but what people fail to mention is the thing that always seems to get in the way - reality. Just like the story taught, it is nearly impossible to rise above and be more than mediocre when those around you are pulling you down. I've learned how exhausting it can be and how after awhile you give up. You get tired of climbing, rising, only to be dragged back down.

Striving to rise above is an admirable aspiration, but like a lot of things fear stops people from achieving it. I've realized it isn't necessarily the fear of rising above that stops people it is the fear of all the crap you have to go through to get there. No wonder being mediocre is enough.

The Dash

On your tombstone you’ve got your birth date and the date of your death. In between those two dates is the little dash – that’s your life – everything from the time you were born to the time you die. The question is – how are you going to live your dash?

I was introduced to this idea while watching a documentary. At the time this idea blew my mind, granted it was three in the morning. I started to really think about this and the more I thought the more blown away I was by this concept. When we look at someone’s grave we don’t even think about what the dash means. It’s your whole life in one little line – what you accomplished and who you were.

The Dash Poem 

Linda Ellis 

I read of a man who stood to speak

At the funeral of a friend.

He referred to the dates on her tombstone

From the beginning to the end.

He noted that first came the date of her birth

And spoke of the following date with tears, 

But he said what mattered most of all

Was the dash between those years.

For that dash represents all the time

That she spent alive on earth 

And now only those who loved her

Know what that little line is worth.

For it matters not, how much we own,

The cars, the house, the cash, 

What matters is how we live and love

And how we spend our dash.

So think about this long and hard;

Are there things you'd like to change?

For you never know how much time is left 

That can still be rearranged.

If we could just slow down enough

To consider what's true and real

And always try to understand

The way other people feel.

And be less quick to anger

And show appreciation more

And love the people in our lives 

Like we've never loved before

If we treat each other with respect

And more often wear a smile, 

Remembering that this special dash

Might only last a little while.

So when your eulogy is being read 

With your life's actions to rehash

Would you be proud of the things they say

About how you spent your dash? 

It's interesting to think about. I've probably over analyzed this concept to the extreme, but I guess that's what happens on a graveyard shift.