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Don't Drift Into Mediocrity

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Don't drift into mediocrity!

I was looking forward to our surf session. A buddy of mine (who we'll call Dave) had just arrived from out of town and we were excited to get into the water. On the paddle out, we were laughing with each other reminiscing, and-oh, paddling like crazy to get out before the next set of waves came crashing in.

While we were waiting to catch our first wave, we noticed a strong current pulling us south. At first, we both paddled to hold our position in the water and stay where the surf was best. I had been out surfing with Dave a few times before and I knew from experience that he always made an effort to stick together and fight the current. But in this case, something was different. There was a third person with us; a friend of Dave's.

Although Dave and his friend, Brian, were both good surfers, I could see that Brian was unwilling to make the effort required to stay at our original peak ... this is when things became interesting.

After several waves, the southbound current had really begun to spread us out. Wanting to stay where the waves were the best, I immediately paddled north, back to our initial location. When I got there, I turned around and noticed that Dave had not even attempted to paddle north at all. He looked at me and then at Brian. A decision was about to be made...

Well, that was the last time I saw Dave and Brian during that surf session. They had drifted so far down the beach that the use of a telescope was my only hope of seeing them again. And since the waves didn't break very well anywhere else at this beach, I knew they weren't chasing good waves. The current got the best of them-literally.

Sure, it took a little more effort to stay where the waves were good, but it was much easier for Dave to drift. Besides, he wasn't alone. It couldn't be that bad, right? Especially since Brian was right there with him drifting in the current. He was going to have to deal with the same consequences ... doesn't that make it okay? No, it doesn't. It only makes it easier to accept things the way they are.

I had a lot of time to think during that surf session since I was no longer conversing with my friend. I realized how easy it is to settle for less (In this case, poor waves) when you're with other people who are also willing to accept the same standard.

I guess the old adage holds true: It's hard to soar like an eagle, when you hang with turkeys. It was interesting to see how my friend found it so easy to lower his standards and self-expectations once someone else had entered the picture. Perhaps our past president, John F. Kennedy, said it best, "Once you settle for second, that's what happens to you in life."

Fight the "current" and the temptation to choose what is easy over what is best. Sure, sometimes the best is the easy thing to do, but in many cases, life requires one (or more) additional steps forward that the majority is simply unwilling to take. This is exactly why a little can go a very long way. As the old adage goes, the difference between ordinary and extraordinary is just that little bit extra.

Much success to you,

- Kent Healy

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