ALL That We Can Do

“What do you do?”

We spend a lot of time comparing ourselves to others. What do THEY do or not do in comparison to us? Typically, whether we choose to vocalize it or not, there is a judgment formed within our minds. Wow, how do they manage to do it all? Or, why don’t they get off their butt and get moving? We compare ourselves to them in such a way as to minimize our own doings; what’s wrong with me, why can’t I do what they are doing? Why can’t I keep up with the kids, the house or my job like they are? There’s something wrong with me, I should be able to do that too.

On the other hand, we RECEIVE criticism when we can’t “keep up”. We are often demeaned for not appearing to stay on track with “the rest of the group”, whatever that may be. It could come from our boss, our parents or in-laws, our spouse or the other mommies in the crowd.

“No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” – Eleanor Roosevelt

We are all different as individuals. We each have a way of handling life’s daily rituals. Each of us does these things in a manner that is all our own. We have learned “how” as we grew up; we learned in a unique way, from our OWN “families”, circumstances and experiences. We all come from a place that is different than where the next person arose. Each step we have taken has led us down a path, and we do what we KNOW how to do with that knowledge. We react differently to each situation, we cope with stresses in opposite manners, and we try the best we can.

“You did what you knew how to do at the time and when you knew more, you did better.” – Maya Angelou

“The sower may mistake and sow his peas crookedly; the peas make no mistake, but come up and show his line.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

What we DO is quite simply; EVERY possible thing we can in any given moment. We are not clones of one another. We aren’t meant to be the same. We are supposed to be individuals, bringing a little piece of OUR soul and life experience to EVERYTHING we do and EVERY PERSON that we encounter. Those things may not be what is “expected”, but aren’t expectations a little boring anyways?