A short sports story: Cathy Rigby won a spot on the U. S. Women’s Gymnastics Team competing in the 1972 Olympics. She had trained for her big moment since she was a child and she had one goal in mind—to win a gold medal.
On the day of her performance, she prayed for the strength and skill she to work through her routine with making mistakes. She was tense, but determined—she didn’t want to let herself or America down.
Cathy performed well, but when the competition was over and the winners were announced, her name wasn’t called.
Cathy was crushed by the outcome—despite all her hard work, she hadn’t even placed. She joined her parents in the stands all set for a good cry and a dose of sympathy. She sat down and barely managed to say, “I’m sorry. I did my best.”
“You know that, and I know that,” her mother said, “and I’m sure God knows that too.” Then, as Cathy recalled that day, her mother said 10 words to her that she’s never forgotten: “Doing your best is more important than being the best.”
What an inspiring story! And how wise Cathy’s mother was to gift her daughter with 10 words that she’d remember all through her life! How timely the right words can be! They can encourage and soothe and inspire and challenge us just when we most need a lift.
Cathy’s 10th place in the all-around competition in the 1972 Olympics was, at the time, the best showing of any American woman gymnast. She went on to have a spectacular acting career playing Peter Pan!
And now, let’s ponder her mother’s 10 memorable words for a moment. How often does our desire to be the best distract us from doing our best? Sometimes we’re so anxious to win—an agent, a book publisher, a great deal—that we forget about doing our best. And when we’re anxious, we contract and close up instead of expanding and opening.
So let’s rethink that passionate struggle to succeed. Let’s pour our passion into the work itself and see where it takes us as we all write on!
