Looking For My Best

A few days ago, I awoke early in the morning to see my three-month-old son lying next to me. At some point during the night, he had convinced my wife to bring him into bed with us, using his cuteness as a weapon, no doubt. That wasn’t an unusual occurrence. However, what made this morning different was that he was wide awake as he lay there. Wide awake and quiet!

The morning light started to beam through the cracks around the blinds, and I could see his chubby little cheeks propped up on his forearms as he laid on his tummy just staring at me. When we made eye contact, his silent gaze turned into a grin as his eyes remained locked with mine. Perfectly content, he continued to stare at me with those large, Disney eyes as the grin crept into a smile that made its way up his cheeks and along his supporting arm.

It was a treasured moment indeed. But also, a sobering one as I contemplated the fact this precious little child is totally dependent on my wife and me. He’s not just staring into my eyes, he’s looking at me to provide for him, to protect him, to love him, to care for him. He’s looking at me to be at my very best.

There may be people in your life who demand the best from you: a boss, a coach, a co-worker, a business partner. Or maybe they don’t. Maybe they allow you to settle for something less. But then there are others, and while they may not demand your best, they depend on it. These are the people who will suffer if you don’t show up with excellence. They are relying on you to not settle.

You may be able to maintain your desired lifestyle and remain comfortable while not at your best. You may be able to retain your job with a good effort rather than a great one. “Good enough” may still check a lot of boxes. But somewhere, someone (possibly including people you aren’t even aware of) isn’t demanding your best, they are dependent on it.

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