The rest of the words on the page faded away.  All I could see, all I could hear echoing in my head were the words “…do you think you could try…”

Anyone who knows me, knows I always try.  Try is the very least I do…  I go above and beyond.  I expect more of myself than anyone else ever could, so the words, THOSE WORDS, cut me to the quick.  I was momentarily crushed, thoroughly dazed and those words were ricocheting around in my head.

It had been a rough day.   A rough day that had followed a rough week that had followed a rough few months.  I felt like I was about to go under for the 3rd and final time.

I took a deep, shaky breath and as the oxygen ignited my brain cells, I became instantly furious!  Just who did this person, this acquaintance that barely knows me, think he was to ask me if I could try…

Now mind you, I tend to ramble on a good day.  On a bad day, in an even worse mood and just recently irritated – I ramble quickly and in a high-pitched tone. That is, if I choose to speak. I normally internalize. I let it build up. I take it on the chin.

But not today! Boy oh boy… It bubbled up and over and out. I couldn’t stop it. I couldn’t contain it. I marched out of my office, head down and on a mission.

I found him outside. He was smoking. Of all things, doesn’t he know those things will kill ya? I walked right up to him before by bravado faded. I needed to talk to him!

And I did. Attitude and all. Arms flailing.

And do you know what he did?

He listened.

Because that is what mentors do. That is what good guys do. That is what friends do.

They listen. They let you vent. They let you be irrational and high pitched and squeaky!

And then when you are calm, whether it be later that day, later that week or later that month (what can I say, I have my mother’s stubborn streak) they discuss it with you. They tell you where you are wrong (gasp!) and where you are right. They rationalize. They use logic. But they wait until the emotions are calm, cool.

And then, if they have the same smart-ass sense of humor as you, they can make a joke of it. A joke that, unbeknownst to them, can become your mantra.

Try Harder.

I love to write and this site has been an outlet that I have recently gotten back into for my own enjoyment. I stalled when I started writing this post. It has been sitting dormant for weeks, if not months. I finally figured out the reason is because I was focused on the negative aspect and that defeated the purpose of the post.

As I was about to hit the delete button the “Try Harder” graphic caught my eye and made me smile. So I did. I dug a little deeper and found the true meaning behind this post from the start.

No matter where you are in life, no matter what you are doing… Always, always do your best, BUT always TRY HARDER. Always lover deeper, laugh longer, smile with your entire being, and never be the first to let go when you are hugging someone you love. Listen to the dumb jokes, they do make you laugh, at least a little. Hold hands, tickle the babies and try not to be so negative. Remember everyone has a bad day, maybe if you take the time to help them, maybe next time someone will take the time to help you. Maybe they won’t, but you will still feel better for it!

So, let’s all go out there and Try Harder, Do Better and for Goodness Sakes let’s all
Be Kinder!!