“We are what we repeatedly do, excellence then is not an act but a habit.”– Aristotle

 

I first saw the extraordinary “Fred” practiced by my father, as a tool and die maker for one shift of the day, and a farmer for all the rest of it. I also felt it in my mother’s arms, so perfect at hugging her children tight, yet equally adept at kneading mountains of yeasty dough into our daily bread. Ordinary life events, true, but executed with sincere passion and utmost integrity.

As a little girl, I didn’t know of Fred, only of his extraordinary ways. It wasn’t until a few short years ago, a recommendation was given to me, to read the book, The Fred Factor, by Mark Sanborn. It is based on a man, Fred the Postman, and his incredible commitment to his job delivering mail. The heart of which is going that extra mile and always doing more than what is expected. It is the very essence of something we seem to see less of nowadays: integrity

Integrity can be defined as the quality of being honest, with a strong morality. It is generally a personal choice to hold oneself to consistent ethical standards; to do the right thing in a reliable way. Therefore, it is something attainable to everyone, no matter your name, occupation or station in life. But, somehow it is being slowly replaced by mediocrity.

No doubt there have always been those who do just enough to get by. They live their lives believing it won’t make a difference how well the task is done as long as it is completed. I say it does. For there is a difference between simply dusting the surface of the table versus polishing the wood to bring out its hidden grain. It shouldn’t matter whether someone remarks on it or not. It should be the passionate flame of excellence burning in each of us to take it to the next level.

This is not to say we shouldn’t acknowledge the extraordinary Freds of this world. We should indeed. Praise and gratitude are powerful motivators. But, at the same time, we shouldn’t rely on outside value to keep us from living our lives as a masterpiece. We should strive for incomparability purely because it is the only option we should choose.

Martin Luther King Jr. said, “If a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets even as Michelangelo painted or Beethoven composed music or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the host of heaven and earth will pause to say, ‘Here lived a great street sweeper who did his job well.’”

What it all comes down to is integrity, in ourselves, our community, our world. There aren’t any insignificant or ordinary jobs when done by significant and extraordinary people. Each of us is important and equally valued. Whether we grow the wheat, bake the bread, serve the toast, trade wheat futures on the stock market or treat a patient for gluten intolerance; we, each of us, hold the extraordinary possibility of Fred.

It is our choice to be it. It is our astuteness that sees it in others. It is our integrity that brings forth both.

Lastly, I’d like to pass on a special invite and opportunity to support some extraordinary people; our youth of Destined for Greatness. They will be putting on a play called “I Am,” as well as dinner at the Church of Cassopolis, 520 Pearl St., Cassopolis, on Saturday, February 28 at 5:00 p.m. Please come out to support them and enjoy a wonderful evening. Larry Harris Jr., guest speaker, will be talking on the importance of having a positive role model in your life. Tickets are $10.00 and you can contact, Kimberly Brown @ 269-228-0058.

 

CeeCee Wilson, is the organizer of Cass Can Community and the writer/photographer of Quirky Bella.