In the Road Runner, a documentary about the chef and travel documentarian Anthony Bourdain’s adult life, he shares many nuggets of personal wisdom that he garnered from years of travel across the globe, not only exposing himself to the diversity of culinary delights but just as much the cultures of such a rich landscape of people.
In his journey, he shares a poignant element worthy of reflection. “The greatest sin is mediocrity.’ Therein lays his tremendous wisdom. Why would we take on anything for merely just doing it? Do you choose to be a parent and just be okay at it, or choose a job just so that you can check in at nine and out at 5—what of the activity you have selected or the time you dedicate to almost anything. How we approach it and then undertake any role, activity or function will ultimately reflect on ourselves and how others see us.
You can be okay at anything, but you will likely attain little satisfaction if any, and most likely will not leave a lasting impression on anyone. So yes, your kids, partner, colleagues, and friends are not marveling at your excellence in mediocrity.
Possibly we should ask ourselves if this is what I plan to spend my time on, what it will look like if I choose to excel in it and how I will feel once I attain it. Mediocrity may just be the greatest sin we can commit to ourselves.
