Greatness

Death is not the worst thing that can happen to man--Plato

There is something far worse than death that plagues humanity...

A force that devours dreams.

Defiles dignity.

And steals of the souls of men.

Mediocrity.

Since the beginning of time, this fiend has seduced many into a false sense of security.

Unlike most vices, which lurk in the darkest corners of our mind, this creature comes out during the day to play. It disguises itself in a cloak of comfort and waits until we are at our weakest to strike. When victims are weary from work. Tired of toiling. And ready for relief. This is when mediocrity slips in, singing songs of "someday" and lulling us with words of want. We drink deep from the deep from the wells of desire. 

Food. 

Alcohol. 

Entertainment. 

Indulgence after indulgence, we spin out of control, and eventually fall into complacency.

We settle in. Settle down. Settle for. And settle with... 

Mediocrity picks us up off the floor with a paycheck, and buys us some time. But money only blinds us from the reality of the situation. 

The more that we consume, the more we are consumed.

A house. 

A car. 

A TV. 

All building blocks of the grand facade. This, is where Mediocrity lives. On the road that leads to status quo. With each new thing Mediocrity sinks its fangs deeper and deeper, poisoning us with momentary thrills. Mediocrity feeds on our greatest gifts; creativity, ambition, and resolve. In return we get just enough to keep us at bay. The marks of it's bite can be seen on the blank faces of it's victims. The living dead. Zombies trudging through the world with no purpose. No motivation. No life. 

But no one morns these lost souls. 

Why? 

How can one ever die, if one never truly lived? Answer: They never existed in the first place.

Becoming another drone in this army of average is a terrifying thought. Buzzing about from one place to the next. Completely submissive to the hive mind. Never daring enough to think for themselves. Never willing to go out on their own. 

There is only one thing that can protect us from the same horrific fate.

Greatness.

Mediocrity fears Greatness. For Greatness knows no boundaries. It has no equal. It will stop at nothing to achieve its goals. It has no excuses. Nor does it complain. Greatness doesn't give in or look for the easy way out. Greatness has inner strength. It is bold. It willing to fight. Greatness acts and does not mind failure. Not even Death can stop Greatness from continuing on. Greatness is remembered. It is celebrated. It is replicated. Through memory and song. Through laughter and pain. Through books and buildings. 

Most of all, through the actions of those whom it touches. 

We must look for greatness everywhere we go. In everything we do. Lest we spend the rest of our days roaming the wastelands of inexistance in search of mirages that only lead us closer and closer to oblivion. 

Many chase after Greatness, but their efforts are in vain. For they look on the outside. But Greatness resides within. In our hearts and our minds. 

Greatness isn't found in plans or ideas. 

It's found in actions. 

Little moments of boldness that cross the lines between Fear and Madness. Greatness holds a balance between both, which are always trying to pull us over the edge. Because of this, Greatness never rests. It's always on the move. If you stay in one place for too long, you'll lose it. But there's no mistaking when you've found Greatness. Because it speaks loud and true. All those who hear it, listen. It lifts us out of obscurity, and raises us to new heights. Each new challenge we face broadens our horizons. 

Mediocrity is too lazy to fight against Greatness. Instead, it retreats, hoping one day we'll get tired and fall back into the mundane routine. 

This is why we must dedicate ourselves to the pursuit of Greatness. 

Not as a chase. 

Rather, as a dance across time and space. 

Revolutions and revelations of life itself. 

And in the end, when the waves of darkness come crashing down, we will walk hand-in-hand with Greatness along the shores of Eternity. 

No wants. 

No regrets. 

Just transcendence.

Follow Josh onYouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/user/Tipperdy
Or Twitter: @Joshumusprime

Or Facebook: www.facebook.com/thepolymathparadigm

And you can his NaNo progress here: http://nanowrimo.org/participants/tipperdy

And he has a book on military transitions here: http://www.amazon.com/About-Face-Josh-Coker-ebook/dp/B00N4GYB84/