cur-mud-geon:
anyone who hates hypocrisy and pretense and has the temerity to say so; anyone with the habit of pointing out unpleasant facts in an engaging and humorous manner
As I course through each day, I recognize those about me (they’re easy to identify) who exemplify the adage you’ve probably heard before: Be the Best You Can Be.
Be the best you can be at whatever is your calling at that particular time in your life. It matters little what you find yourself involved in, so long as it’s legal.
What matters is what we make of that particular opportunity. Some recent examples have stuck with me for a couple of weeks and needed to be acknowledged:
…the Waste Management driver who saw me at curbside on “pick-up” morning after Christmas and who gave me a cheerful smile, a wave and a “have a great day”. He was doing his best to be the best.
…the young lady who was my waitperson at the local Uno’s establishment, who bubbled over with enthusiasm, was obviously excited to be serving my wife and me, and who enjoyed who she was and what she was doing at that particular time.
…the local custard stand owner who is the epitome of the adage.
…the tellers at my local MidAmerica Bank who always have a smile and a warm welcome as I walk up to their window or see them through the drive-thru window.
…the young lady at our local Post Office who has a cheery “good morning” or “good afternoon” coupled with a genuine smile as she does whatever it was that I requested.
All of them remind me of what I was admonished by my father, and of what I constantly tried to drive home to my loved ones as well as to those I’ve had the good fortune to be associated with over these many years…it makes no difference what you are doing so long as you strive to be the very best you can be while doing it.
It shows and it ought to be welcomed by each of us, even though we may not take the time to respond in a similar manner.
Why not take that extra minute to acknowledge him or her the next time you meet one of our local “best”?
