We have minimum wage. Minimum work requirements. Minimum
hiring requirements. Minimum speed (that one doesn’t usually seem to be a
problem, since most of us like to go fast). But you get my drift. We contribute
the minimum and feel like we’ve done a job well-done. When in reality, we’ve
done just enough.
My question is why?
Why do we let ourselves fall short? Why do we allow our
lives, our potential to be wasted? Are we really that far from deity that we
can’t remember why we’re here? What we are capable of? What our potential is? Are
we just too lazy? Or are we too busy?
As I look back on my day, I see all the things I’ve gotten
done. All the items I’ve checked off my to do list. But there are at least
double the items I didn’t have on my list, and still got done. It’s only on my
lazy days that I do the minimum, which I hate to admit, does come more often
than I’d like. But why do I need to set a to do list in the first place? Can’t
I just see what needs to be done, and then do it? Or am I so distracted that I
can’t even see those things?
As I was getting up to take care of my sick infant, I
thought about this phenomenon that we’ve limited ourselves to just doing the
bare minimum when it comes to doing something that we either don’t really want
to be doing, don’t enjoy, or feel like we have to do because it is required,
either to survive, or to maintain a status of something we want.
For example, my husband and I have been married for 10
years. In those 10 years, we have established different parameters that we need
to make ourselves and each other happy. For example: my husband likes it when I
welcome him with a smile and hug when he gets home from work each day. Simple.
Easy. And I like it when he is employed and supports our family. Simple. Easy.
So you see, we have these base ideas, or requirements that seem like common
sense, but can sometimes set the bar too low.
Now, my husband is amazing, and literally only requires
sleep, some words of affirmation, and physical touch. And as for me, I feel
like he does such a great job with providing for us, that he doesn’t need to do
more. But because both of us love each other so much and want our relationship
to not only survive, but to thrive, we go above and beyond what is required.
Like, my husband doesn’t expect me to do dishes every day, but I do. My husband
doesn’t expect a clean house, but I do (this is how I show him I love him-even
though he really could care less…hmmm…makes me want to see how messy things
could get. Just kidding). Ted comes home happy, ready to scoop up our boys in
his arms and play. Everyone loves when daddy gets home, because daddy’s fresh.
Daddy’s happy. He has energy. Usually by that time of day, mom has run around
and played so much her tank is on empty, and there’s lots of clean up before
the end of the day. But back to my point, why do we contribute more than just
what is required to our relationship? Answer: because we want to it work, and
we want it to thrive. So, why don’t we apply that same principle to the rest of
our lives? And what if we did? Do you? And if you do, what kind of success do
you see? How can we be more than just what is required of us? The bare minimum?
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