[Brain Rants] Screw Being the Best

I've been having a lot of deeper discussions regarding this topic lately with my friends, and it's somewhat quite stuck on my mind now. 

All my life, I've grew up to play the second fiddle to someone else. Reason? I'm not bad, but there are always people better than me, at all things. Some examples, should you need reference, academically, musically and even physically.  I frequently find myself drowning in the sea of depression, wondering if there is really one thing that I am good at, or at least in comparison with others. (Wait, don't over-react yet, the scary part hasn't peaked) And the scary part is that I don't know why. Is it because of the lack of talent, or maybe of grit? It has never surfaced.



This notion about being the best is advocated early in life with the academic streaming system, and as been constantly reminding us in all forms of media. It is not uncommon or surprising when I hear people talk about how they aim to be the best, I nod and agree in response because I know that feeling. Everyone wants to be special, to be noticed and appreciated. "You were a good one. We don't know what to do without you. You - you matter."

Everyone can't be the best. They just can't, it defies the definition of the word itself. There will always be a handful of people that are better than the others and within the handful of people, one will be better than the others (or maybe two will be as equally good). This realization can be demoralizing for some of us, with near 7 billion people on this planet, we know best that - there's slim chance that you will be preeminent. It happens, and wtf, why did we even bother trying.

Okay, now heave a deep breath and imagine the scenario in which you're really the best in whichever field you desire to. All this time, this is the moment that you're working towards; and now you're there! What next, does it make a world of difference to you? Or just at your moment of glory someone surpasses you and you're no longer "the best"; "Wait, what?" This competition is never-ending.

What if I told you that being the best doesn't matter? Look, you don't have to be the best for instance at photography to be a good photographer. This goes the same for anything else. Do you like to sing? Then sing ahead! You don't have to be Michael Jackson or Elvis Presley (sorry for being a little outdated here on the Billboard, but you know what I'm trying to drive upon.) and even among the top singers, only one can be the best. At the end of the day, you're a singer too. Popularity does not equate into success.

As Homo sapiens, we are naturally social animals and we all love compliments; but do we really need them?  They're just to stroke our egos. You don't need people to constantly tell us that we're good at things. That is just absurd if you think twice; will your life be futile without these? Or, do you exist for these?

Though you may not be able to be the best, what you can be is the best that you can be. And really, that is all that matters. To me, making a difference to the world around you matters the most; others such as popularity is quite trivial to worry about, no? You could be the surgeon who saved tons of lives or that nice lady behind the receptionist counter that beams a smile to everyone. The desire to be the best is perfectly normal, it gives you ammo to perform. But don't let it turn into dejection that deter you from going after your dreams.

Signed,
Cindy