Measure of a Man

I admire people who appear to have it all but revere those who make it seem effortless; their success is born of unwavering discipline and masked by the truest form of pride. I revere them because they have to supplement all their endeavors with a veneer of grace. I revere them because I know their cracks, though harder to find, run deeper and are usually nurtured by quiet heartache.

I am in unspoken competition with these people. Their personal victories fuel me. We exist in an inverse and symbiotic relationship that is driven by a passion to excel. This mentality can be dangerous, I know. So with all my ambition, I never take pleasure in seeing others fail. And with all of my accomplishments, I try to elevate those around me. Is this not the only way for us to truly advance? To challenge ourselves and, in effect, one another? It's why the company we keep is so crucial. If herd mentality is unavoidable, shouldn't we float in circles that share a common goal of attaining greatness? Having been given so much, I can't squander.

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I used to think that to be a good person, one had to completely reject materialism and the superficial. Now I know that living a humble life can be achieved by recognizing how lucky we are to be in our situations; to appreciate our ability to work hard and be properly compensated. To own nice things but not let nice things define us. Who says we have to forfeit living well in order to do good?

Let us realize that it will never be a leveled playing field, but work everyday to try to make it one anyway. Our contribution can be fulfilled by being considerate drivers, by not littering. By being responsible voters, a faithful comrade. Always erring on the side of kindness. Maybe one day taking my kid to Disneyland and teaching her to share. Humility is never losing self-awareness.