I am only one...
I am only one, but I am one. I can not do everything, but I can do something. And I will not let what I cannot do interfere with what I can do.
Edward Everett Hale
Now that I have Edwardâs identity sorted out I can concentrate on what he supposedly said. I say âsupposedlyâ because Iâm fully aware I got the quote from the internet, and sadly, there has to be a small leap of faith in doing so. When I first read the quote I was absolutely certain it was the product of the me generation and humbled by the assumption those who came before us were not quite as smart as we are today (I mean electricity was a novel thing back then). Good thing we have the Internet â itâs a vast achievement that reminds us constantly we do not know all that much, and sadly, weâve forgotten more than we dare to admit.
The exploration of the human condition has been an endeavour over the millennium so we probably shouldnât assume Edward Everatt Hale was the first to put pen to paper regarding individuality and its innate power â although he does have a meme so he has that going for him. And because of it, I couldnât help but put some thought into it.
I am only one, but I am one â a reminder that you are the fundamental building blocks for everything done as a species (or not done), and because of it, you have the potential to do something important.
I can not do everything, but I can do something â an acknowledgement and recognition that you have skills, abilities, and character, and you can achieve something. Alas, itâs also a reminder the universe is rather large, so you canât everything or do not have the ability. However, there is no excuse in simply doing nothing.
And I will not let what I cannot do interfere with what I can do â a reminder to focus on what you have and what you can do, and not be distracted by lamenting or striving for what you canât. Achievement will never be found if donât focus on your strengths and abilities.
How does that song go again? Oh yes, âTwo outta three ainât badâ.Â
I am only one, but I am one â check. Can not do everything, but I can do something â check. And I will not let what I cannot do interfere with what I can do â wait, what about identifying your weaknesses and developing a plan to improve? Oversimplifying, as I am apt to do, there seems to two philosophical camps; find your strengths and rally all your energy around them, or identify your weaknesses, develop them into strengths, and strive for balance (I belong in this camp). âFind what you are really good at and then go all in to make the most of itâ â itâs pithy and I do like the ring of it. Maybe my approach has been wrong all these years, although arguable I havenât done so bad.
Iâm probably going to have to consult with the Internet again but in the mean time this is where Iâve landing â
I am, and that is important. I have talents to do something, and I will. I have been given a lifetime to figure out how to get it done, although itâs not as long as you think.
iamgpe
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Comments
Levan Johnson
2 years ago #10
I like to think that nothing is ever for nothing. Whatever you build, someone can improve. Everything you do leads you to where you are going next. I'd rather build on a strength than be frustrated by a weakness. I also like to think that we all make contributions to the world in our own way. Sometimes our contributions are meme worthy and sometimes they are not but that doesn't mean they don't have value. Nice post, Graham.
Grahamđ Edwards
4 years ago #9
That really is the question isn't it Jerry Fletcher... I vote "To be" Thanks!
Grahamđ Edwards
4 years ago #8
Thanks for the quotes Joel Anderson... I particularly like the Emily Dickinson...
Grahamđ Edwards
4 years ago #7
Thanks very much Bill Stankiewicz, \ud83d\udc1d Brand Ambassador... thanks for reading
Grahamđ Edwards
4 years ago #6
Thanks for the comment Royce Shook... that clock keeps ticking...
Jerry Fletcher
4 years ago #5
Joel Anderson
4 years ago #4
Bill Stankiewicz
4 years ago #3
Bill Stankiewicz
4 years ago #2
Royce Shook
4 years ago #1