Why settle for less?

I've been going around UPLB and Calauan, and have noticed a simple fact of life: Nobody wants to get less than they deserve. However, there is a corollary to this: But if there's a bargain in the next corner, go for it. The corollary isn't really something new, but I have an anti-thesis: If you can get some now, then why wait for tomorrow? Seize the day. But how do you know how much you deserve?

In life sometimes we get a choice between abundance and abstinence. Sometimes we have a choice between indulging and controlling ourselves. But when do we know when enough is enough? How much is enough? They say too much is never enough -- but where is the line?

Would you settle for second best? Of course you wouldn't -- but when do you know that you're just getting the next best thing if you haven't heard of/seen the best deal? Are you going to second-guess yourself everytime you commit to something or subscribe to something you think you believe in? Would you know if the deal you got is the best deal or just the second best deal? Who is there to tell? Who would know? Would you know?

These are questions for dialectic conversations. However, in real life we have to settle with what we have, and sometimes things we don't have. I remember seeing myself 10 years from now, a successful person fulfilling most of the goals I've set for myself to fulfill. But I never thought of being the best, because I assume that there's someone going to be better. I never strive to be the best in the world because I assume that there is always going to be someone better. Instead, I strive to beat myself -- beat my standards of myself and do everything I can to the best of my abilities.

That way, I know that I gave my best, my all, and it wouldn't be the next best thing for me. Only my efforts are what I can gauge, and I am satisfied if I perform to the fullest. If I better myself, then I am my own best. If someone else gets better than me, then I congratulate him -- but victory is mine whenever I defeat myself.

This is what I do when I program, when I write, and when I swim. I do my best, and give my all. If in case someone else is better than me, then I wouldn't feel bad because I know I gave it my all. I wouldn't second guess myself after doing my best because I know I couldn't have given more if I gave it my all.

I hope people get inspiration and insight from this, and I would appreciate it if you passed this along to your friends, brothers, sisters, relatives, or whoever you think might need consolation after defeat or is in a time of great stress. If you know someone who doubts himself, give them your time and tell them that you believe in them and that he should believe in himself -- because when all is gone, you only have yourself to love.

Chill...