Whatever you saw me do out there, good or bad, was the best I had. – Gordie Howe
For the uninitiated, Gordie Howe was a professional hockey player, most closely identified with the Detroit Red Wings. While the title of Greatest Hockey Player Ever is subjective, Howe would make an awful lot of short lists. By any standard, he was one of the very best.
This thought resonates on two levels. One, the best you have is all you can do. There’s nothing beyond your best. Two, your best does not always result in greatness. Sometimes your best is not enough. That’s OK, too. It’s the way the world is built.
… the best I had
Usually, however, your best does result in something good. It doesn’t really matter what we are doing, either. Just because you are not a famous athlete doesn’t mean there isn’t an endeavor that doesn’t deserve your very best. We all have talents. Some people build chairs, some play hockey, I write. What do you do?
We aren’t doing anybody – ourselves or our fellow humans – any good by loafing and not getting the most out of the talents we were issued. If you are doing your best at something you believe in you are enjoying one of life’s great prizes, the opportunity to work hard at work worth doing.
The best we have. We should expect nothing more, but demand nothing less.
