Am I good enough for you?

 

 

 

 

In this life we are coerced into being good enough, competent to function in social situations and cultured to fit into societal norm. Since birth a great deal of us were taught how to set the table, emit proper table etiquette, to know the general lines of “good morning” and “thank you.” Since I was old enough to comprehend, I’ve been told to ask “may I chew my bone?” to suck the juices out of nice sautéed chicken bone if so desired.  All of this drilled into my mind and manifested by age 10 from both my family and the 4H to be portrayed as a good enough well mannered child of society.

 

 

 

I was inspired to write this because recently I was reprimanded for forgetting to say “excuse me” when getting up from the table. This lead to a leakage of the anger I had boiling inside from the constant corrections and reprimands.

Although it irks me, to be watched constantly by another, it’s just a snippet of how we are constantly being demanded to “pull our socks up” and cross every “t.” We are in a world where conformity is the norm and non-conformists become misfits or ostracized.

 

In anger, deep shame and with a heart filed with remorse and sadness, I have to contemplate upon the demands of society. Will we ever be good enough? Who wrote these unspoken rules of just how we’re supposed to live our lives?

There are just too many expectations and it’s all very maddening. I’ve also come to the realization that each country has its own culture filled with unspoken norms, and how the world will frown when although born in it, you decide to not blend into the pretty picture.

 

To shed some light : to those of us residing in the Caribbean, we take education and good manners seriously. These attributes puts one at the disposal of having a good job later in life, and also a good enough status in society. In Jamaica, a good tertiary education will predisposes you to being a honorable citizen and  it is always the dream to be a University graduate because in Jamaica it means “you bright and have potential.” Being a University student or graduate puts you in the category of "movers and shakers," the future of Jamaica, the ultimate dream team. Yet, all of it can mean nothing if you don't have manners and is not honest, humble and well spoken. University or college is the ultimate prize in our country.

 

 

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But, that is just one sided, the other side of the story elucidates school leavers graduating with few subjects and are without the prospects of attending college.  The other side shows unfulfilled dreams, a set of marginalized youths, an emotionally abusive society who brands people as " a waste of time," "fool" or "strange" simple because the book was not for them. These are the people who have been branded as "not enough" to fill the roles of society.

On the other side of the story , there are plenty who do not wish to follow the main stream. They would rather be happy and content living the lives they were inclined to live; fulfilling their purpose. All, I’m trying to say is that: we were not all born to be schools of fish and it does not give anyone the right to label another as “not good enough” or “ disappointment to society” simply because one chooses not to tread the path society claims as "the right direction."

 

 

 

 

It gets tiring to be labeled just because you can’t meet a person’s expectations. You’re not supposed to be doing that. I’m not supposed to be doing that. We have a purpose, a given role, and we can never find that by trying to be good enough for someone else.

 

 

 

So, I go back to this topic of being “good enough.” Where do YOUR expectations lie? Are you satisfied with who you are, and if not what is influencing you to not be so? Will you be the unhappy follower who wishes to blend into society to feel comfortable? Or will you be the happy, fulfilled stalwart who treads his own path to fulfill the need inside and yet still feeling good enough?

Hope it can open but it's a spoken word "More than enough" by Sarah Ledeboer.
 

I hope this inspires you to try and be bold enough to feel good about yourself, and the choices you have made-good or bad. To be inspired to go where you are called and to figure out your true calling. For those who believe in God-he can provide the answers. Pray about it. Also, sometimes our true selves is right there-it has to do with where our interest lies.




Hi, to all the sunny friends who read the blog. I've been thinking of experimenting with another writing style. I have this urge to change things and this involves incorporating talks about world affairs, and the usage of different types to media to get the message across. So, look out for that!