Over the past year, I have been fortunate to meet, and in some cases, work with some amazing startup founders, successful entrepreneurs and so many hard working and passionate people who are doing amazing and significant work around challenges being faced in education, poverty, healthcare, and helping struggling young adults.
I always walk away being inspired when meeting these people and working with them. Some are at the start of their careers, and others are at, what most people would think, at the end of their careers. What they all have in common is their passion, relentless pursuit and vision to make the world a better place for so many people.
At the same time, I also walk away feeling very insignificant … and I am, compared to what they are doing, or have done. During these times, I remind myself of a poem I saw posted at a summer camp for kids that is titled ‘Be the Best of Whatever You Are’ (see below).
It reminds me that I may not be as significant to many, compared to the people I am meeting, but I may be significant to one person I will interact with on any given day.
https://thought-for-the-week.com
Be The Best Of Whatever You Are
By Douglas Malloch
If you can’t be a pine on the top of the hill,
Be a scrub in the valley — but be
The best little scrub by the side of the rill;
Be a bush if you can’t be a tree.
If you can’t be a bush be a bit of the grass,
And some highway happier make;
If you can’t be a muskie then just be a bass —
But the liveliest bass in the lake!
We can’t all be captains, we’ve got to be crew,
There’s something for all of us here,
There’s big work to do, and there’s lesser to do,
And the task you must do is the near.
If you can’t be a highway then just be a trail,
If you can’t be the sun be a star;
It isn’t by size that you win or you fail —
Be the best of whatever you are!
thought for the week 