Good Enough

by Michele Boy | May 6, 2021

In the movie Big Hero 6, the main character Hiro is coasting and not achieving his potential. Feeling sorry for himself for having lost his parents and directionless, his brother brings him to his college and introduces him to his professor.

The professor engages him in conversation then tells him, “Well, if you like things easy, then my program isn’t for you. We push the boundaries of robotics here. My students go on to shape the future.”

The quote wakes him up and pushes him into his future.

How are successful people so successful? Were they born into it? Do they have something special I don’t have?

Many years ago I was on the wrong path begging for crumbs from people. My life a shambles. Worst of all I didn’t believe in myself. I got my worth from all the people telling me I wasn’t worth it.

And all the successful people I encountered kept the answers inside. They showed the world their best. But their best didn’t help me get from where I was to where I wanted to be.

I turned on the television and this preacher was on saying exactly that. I saw successful people but I never saw the “How.”

I was determined to change. I was determined to be successful. And I wanted to always show my failures so that anyone else on their journey before me who asked for a hand up would get one.

Last week our newspaper won 15 awards. Fifteen! I should be ecstatic right? I should sit bask in the glory and hide my faults.

Want the truth? I yelled at my daughter that morning because I was unhappy inside. I ruined her morning and mine. And all the likes and joys and accolades meant nothing because I didn’t feel good about myself.

As I was riding my spin bike Monday morning the instructor said you are good enough. The words stung. I didn’t feel good enough.

As Mothers Day approaches I have a whole lot of conflicting emotions. I see motherhood from ten different perspectives. The mom I am, the mom I could have been, the mom I am not. The mom I had, the mom I didn’t have, on and on.

Right now the only thing that matters is repeating the mantra I am good enough because everything the world offers isn’t worth anything if you don’t believe you are good enough.

I write this for the woman that needs the hand up, that questions her past and her future. Say it with me - I am good enough.

For me the things that have worked so far are - Saying thank you for something I am grateful for in my life. Finding someone I can help regardless of the results and setting my eyes on a goal.

Whether someone likes you or not you can’t change that but you can like who you are. Yes I am working on that too.

I don’t have a lot of answers other than I am on a journey. The only way I truly feel successful is when I am helping someone else further their journey too.