By Dave Markwell
“Something deep in the human heart breaks at the thought of a life of mediocrity.”
– C.S. Lewis
I believe this is true.
However, the rub in this idea is how one defines “mediocrity.” It’s a shifty word and can mean many different things to many different people. Its definition begins in how we define the fringe elements of success and failure with “mediocre” living someplace in the middle of them.
“Success” and “failure” are value judgments. We define them based on what we feel is important to us. This is beautiful, but not uncomplicated. Many forces conspire to influence and confuse our search for some truth here. Outside pressures or expectations or ideas of how we think we should feel, or what we should aspire to have or be, muddy these waters.
At some point in our lives, we face a crossroads and must decide our path. This can happen early or late, but it happens. On this road, we choose our own definitions of things. Thus, we choose our life.
I’ve recently encountered this crossroad and chosen a path. I’ve defined clearly how I want my life to feel and there is great peace in this. This is an inside job. I assembled no panel to explore my options. I did not crowd-source opinions or take a poll gathering feedback metrics to show me which way to go. I looked within and I listened to the soft, honest voices telling me the truth. So, this is the way I’ll keep going. I carry a certain faith that the things I feel are true and right and my direction is leading me to a nice place.
In the meantime, I enjoy little moments of connection and contribution and recognize them as success. Success, for me, lives in the micro, not the macro. It lives in a conversation with a stranger or a hug with a friend or a dance at sunset or a thoughtful walk by the water or raw words on a page. It’s a cup of coffee on a slow Sunday morning and a beer on a deck on a hot afternoon. It is striving for big things without fear or desperation, and relaxing with the knowledge that everything is working as it should. Peace lives in believing this, so long as we keep showing up. Not showing up is accepting mediocrity and this is what breaks the human heart. And, it’s unacceptable to me, and sad to think about.
Last night, I sat at the bar rail watching music by the water. A good man I know sponsored a little concert as a fundraiser for cancer research. Surrounded by the family and friends of this good man, I felt all the love. And, I felt successful in its presence.
With a hazy sunset as their backdrop, a father/daughter duo sang “Free-fallin’”and I felt alive. I met new friends and enjoyed conversations and looked for an earring. I smiled and knew the world to be a nice place and was happy for my spot in it. A small moment at sunset surrounded by music and love is not mediocre and will break no hearts. It’s exceptional, and it’s the best thing there is. It’s also available any time we choose it.
Photo credit: Robin Malmanger
Dave Markwell is a life-long Des Moines liver and lover. Former owner of Waterland CrossFit and the Waterland Arcade, Dave uses his unique story-telling voice to help small businesses tell a better story, and his love for people to help folks live bigger and better lives. For more info, check out his website: wordsbydave.net
