From The Desk of Maverick Brenton.
Subject: Competing With Yourself.
There was an old man that I used to know.
He was a quiet man.
Kept to himself.
Got around with a walking stick that never left his side.
He had an old worn out face.
Grey hair.
And an English accent.
This old chap’s name was Harry.
Harry was a gardener who worked out in the countryside around my hometown.
He lived in a small caravan next to the local supermarket.
It was early winter when we met.
Harry needed help gardening over the winter.
And I needed work over the winter.
So..
Someone spoke to someone who told someone else that I was the perfect candidate to help him.
Soon enough I was in his old beaten up car which was filled with dirt and leaves.
He was very peaceful this man.
And very quiet.
For the first few weeks, we only spoke a little - about trivial things.
As you do, with someone you have just met.
He had many lessons he would teach me.
Lessons about life.
Lessons drawn from a long and interesting life.
Lessons learnt the hard way.
One of the most important things I ever learnt from Harry is what I want to talk about today.
It is the simple philosophy of You Vs. You.
He taught me that most people compare themselves to other people - often without even knowing.
Then they feel bad because they are not doing as well as this other person is.
He said that there is only one race to run in your life and that is the race against yourself.
Against who you were yesterday.
To compare yourself to someone else is the silliest thing you could possibly do because they are not YOU.
They have different talents than you.
They have different thoughts than you.
They have a different mind than you.
So measure yourself against yourself and get a little better each day.
Harry spoke on this for a long time.
He told me the same thing over and over again.
He wanted to penetrate my mind - to make sure I never forgot the lesson.
It didn’t work though.
I still do what everyone else does.
I am not special.
I’m just like you.
And I still compare myself to others.
Sometimes.
But I also know something that you may not know.
I know something about people.
Something important.
Something that gives me an edge over everyone else.
What is it?
I know that everyone is human.
Everyone has weaknesses.
Everyone is fucked up in some way.
Everyone bleeds.
Nobody is special.
And nobody is superior to you in worth.
The pain you may feel.
The anxiety you may feel.
The pressure you may feel.
The fear that you may feel.
Everyone feels it.
Keep that in mind when you idolise someone.
Keep that in mind when you see people who appear to be perfect.
You are only seeing the surface.
You are only seeing an image that they have crafted.
You cannot see into their minds and you cannot see what is behind the curtains.
Appearances are deception.
So do not trust them.
Because everyone wears a mask.
And they wear it to fit in.
To get along with others.
So fuck what other people are doing.
Forget it.
It does not matter.
What matters is whether or not you are moving forward.
What matters is whether or not you are getting better
That is what is important.
So..
Run your own race.
You Vs. You.
Until Next Time.
Filed under · Motivation
