Hobbies, Life and Work: The Best We Can Do Is... "Our Best"

From time to time, I have written about being raised with the fundamental value of "always do your best" as a core guiding light in life.

It was something instilled in me by my father — he believed that "if something is worth doing, it's worth doing WELL."

Like many things in life, I suppose it can be both a curse and a blessing. Sure, it's a grandy thing to always put your best foot forward... on the other hand, if you're always thinking about needing to do whatever you undertake really well, you risk ending up with the set of life choices I have lived with for much of my life: Not choosing anything at all because you don't think you can be any good at it.

Hobbies, Doing Your Best... and Having Fun!

So, what am I really trying to write about, here?

Well, hobbies... and pastimes... as they relate to doing our best.

When I look around me in this day and age, it seems like even hobbies and pastimes have become almost like competitive sports in the way people are eternally expected to "be the best" at whatever they undertake... the best artist, the best cook, the best knitter; whatever it may be that you undertake.

Sometimes, it feels like the part of the whole idea of hobbies and pastimes being fun and relaxing has somehow gotten lost in the shuffle of excellence.

Maybe we aren't suppose to excel at everything we undertake.

Many, many many moons ago, I started writing things for no greater reason than I enjoyed it. Although there was a time in my life when I thought it would be — at the very least — cool to be a professional writing, I never lost sight of enjoying what I was doing.

At times I wonder to what extent that is the reason I never seriously pursued the idea of becoming a "professional" writer.

I suppose some people can enjoy and even relax in the pursuit of being "the best" at something they were ultimately just involved in "for fun."

In recent years, I have let go of a considerable portion of my former obsession with always having to do my best and be the best at everything. That's not to say that I have fallen into a pattern of haphazard sloppiness, just that I have learned to think a little more about whether or not I am enjoying myself, and a little less about whether what I am doing is turning out perfectly.

One final comment on this: Sometimes our striving for excellence in a competitive fashion can be dictated by being dependent on being the best... for our very livelihood.

Goodness knows, I have found myself in that situation, plenty of times! These days, I try to avoid it, as much as possible!

Thanks for stopping by - I hope your Valentine's Day was a good one!

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Created at 2023-02-15 00:34 PST
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