dare to be remarkable…
I was given this magnet as a gift, years ago when I began a new business venture. I loved it! It spoke of the belief that my friend had in me, my vision and my ability to impact others for good in this new direction. It is up on my white board by my desk as a reminder. There are times when I look at it and am reminded to do just that…” Be Remarkable.”
sometimes, I love the reminder: remarkable means to be extraordinary, worthy of mention, especially on the days when I may need the extra “umph” to actually be remarkable. And then on other days, when I am feeling bold and confident, it reminds me that I have made the choice to be remarkable… memorable…to stand out and be different.
Sometimes, being remarkable remains unseen by man, and is only noticed by God and possible the one who benefits from your action, like a random act of kindness, or patience in the midst of an angry and impatient crowd/traffic/sporting event… and other times, being remarkable is vibrant and well…”remarked on” by others who see or benefit from your actions. Both are invaluable and life changing, especially for the giver or action taker (the remarkable one) since it is in the “doing,” in taking action, being in the ring and trying that we are shaped and changed and formed into our best selves.
I love this quote by Teddy Roosevelt. It reminds me that the true test of “being remarkable” is the willingness to take action and try… to risk both failure & success for a larger purpose – a greater good.
“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; because there is not effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly. So that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.”
My mom is remarkable. She is in the arena, regardless of her critics and as a result I have learned much from her. Her dear friend is dying and being remarkable is painful, sad and heart wrenching. Being remarkable is sitting with her and being with her, no matter how uncomfortable or sad it might make my mom, because it blesses her friend. That is remarkable!
It will not yield a large paycheck, or a mention in a news story, (except God’s), no real recognition, but it is this kind of “being remarkable that changes people, things… history.” Just like the star athlete, or successful business man who is now bathed in the limelight of acclaim, once practiced or worked in obscurity. No big paycheck or media, just a dedication to being remarkable, and willing to do the necessary work. All three are “in the arena” and that takes courage.
How about you? What did you do that is remarkable today? In your work, life, play?
(…all that from looking at a magnet by my desk