Remember Who You Are

by Michele Boy | August 17, 2023

Last week there was a New York Times article about farming in Syracuse Kansas. 
I read it and was impressed. The writing surpassed anything I am capable of at this time. It bruised my ego a bit. My confidence was taken down a couple notches. 
  I took a breath and remembered that I am not just a writer, I am an editor, a mom, a 4-H mom, and more. It wasn’t an excuse, just awareness of where I am at. 
Do you do that? Do you compare yourself to someone else who is further along in an area than you? 
My daughter does that sometimes and what I tell her is keep showing up, keep trying. You only lose when you quit. 
  If I take some time to look at my successes, the list is long. My list isn’t National or world class level.
In fact to many it would be minor. But it includes things like working on my marriage, raising our daughter, winning a few local awards, serving our community.
 If my eyes focus on the achievements of others, I can lose my mojo pretty quickly. 
But if I focus on where I am and moving forward towards a goal, I am steadier and more confident. Better than some not as good as others. 
Once upon a time I saw those so far ahead of me I quit without much effort. I would never be good enough I would never be like “them.” 
  In truth I have no idea what their life was really like. Today I look at those further ahead as a challenge to do better for myself. And I don’t put you on a pedestal. 
  If you are succeeding in one area, chances are you have some place where you fall short too. 
The opposite is true as well. I don’t put myself on a pedestal next to others. I was once there. I was once dragging, depressed, in a bad relationship, the wrong crowd, full of bad habits. Thank God for his mercy. Thank God for his kindness. 
  Judgment never would have gotten me out of that place! 
Don’t stop. Don’t give up. Focus on where you are and where you would like to be, and know that if you keep on that path, there are treasures that await you! 
I saw something that said your first workout will be bad. Your first podcast will be bad. Your first speech will be bad. But you can’t make your 100th without your first. So put your ego aside and just start.
  And to those in your path with extreme judgment on you,  don’t let that crush you. 
Your job is to finish your race, not theirs. 
In the movie The Incredibles, Edna gives a pep talk. “Pull yourself together. Remember who  you are. Go! Fight! Win!”
  Maybe remembering who you are makes you cringe. 
Don’t let it. You are still here. Keep fighting for you. Your journey is unlike anyone else’s. For those who want to mold you to look like what they think you should be, that is their problem.  And maybe they see something that you do need to work on, but God knows what you are battling on the inside and He will tell you what you need to work on.
Go. Fight. Win!