Doing your best for you

“But Mommy I have been working really hard, I passed my exam and got into Classical, I get all A’s and B’s except for a C in History, I’m doing great on the football team, I’m doing all this for you Mom.” “Wrong son, you’re not doing this for me, you’re doing this for you.” You’re doing this so in later years you can have a really good job making loads of money, be a good husband, a good father, a good citizen, a good Christian”.”Hold on son, please don’t do any of that for Mommy, do it for Junior, for you.” “I want you to work hard because it is the best and the right thing to do, I want you to see the importance of doing it for you my son and not doing it for me.” “Do you understand?” “Yes Mommy.” “I think he got it”.” I really hope he did.”

P.S: Do not be so concerned about doing your best for others, do your best for you, hoping always that your work will not only inspire others but that it will make the world a much better place.

Excerpt from a conversation I had (10/31/07) with my son Van who is a Freshman at Classical High School in Providence, RI.